AFC Energy commissioned the two Beta commercial-design fuel cell systems at AkzoNobel last October. The fuel cells are operated on hydrogen produced industrially at the AkzoNobel plant.

The Beta Systems have now been equipped with electrodes in order to run trials.

This work follows a series of trials that AFC Energy has been carrying out using a Beta System installed at its facilities near Guildford. The company uses its in-house pilot manufacturing capabilities to fabricate electrodes required for testing.

This is the first commercial reference site for the generation of data and demonstration of the whole Beta System. AFC Energy expects to publish results from the trials after their completion.

‘This development is significant, because it confirms our route forwards and paves the way for the commercialisation of the technology for industrial power generation in our primary target markets,’ says Ian Williamson, CEO of AFC Energy.

‘We are collecting data to demonstrate the successful operation of the fuel cell in this industrial application,’ continues Williamson.

AFC Energy is a leading developer of low-cost alkaline fuel cells, focused on large-scale industrial applications.