A three month trial in Spain of fuel cell pioneer AFC Energy’s H-Power clean hydrogen-based generator has convinced the firm to extend its product line.
Infrastructure construction & management multinational Acciona put the British firm’s Hi-Tower S-series 50KvA power maker through its paces over six months last year, evaluating it for building sites needing temporary feeds at high flow.
Announced to investors today, the Dunsfold, Surrey manufacturer’s order from Acciona covers a 30kW air-cooled fuel cell and in combination a probable 45 kWh battery. AFC will buy and link a suitable storage system, based on the end customer’s power needs.
The lease will be for six months, ending in options either to buy or extend. Delivery is promised for later this year. The order’s value was not disclosed.
Responsible for building light rail systems in Melbourne & Quito, Ecuador, the Spanish multinational sees the Surrey firm’s solution as a step towards replacing its fleet of diesel-based generators, with ratings ranging from 30 kVA to 80 kVA.   Its clean power subsidiary Acciona Energy already generates 21 TWh of renewable power per year.
Lessons from last year’s trial have convinced the British manufacturer that it should add the 30 kVA product to its range.  The new platform will house 12 air cooled “S” Series fuel cell systems, each rated at 2.5kW, producing high voltage DC.
AFC Energy, providers of remote power to among others the Extreme-E off-grid EV internatinational race series, says its 50 kVA solution delivers four times the output of its earlier H-Power Tower, while posting lower running costs.
Successive capital raises exceeding £60 million in recent years have been followed by CEO Adam Bond’s enterprise accept an equity stake from Swedish engineer ABB.  Green power supply to data centre operators underpins that relationship.
Of the Acciona deal, Bond commented: “This is is a key relationship for AFC Energy. It provided us with support in defining the “voice of the customer” in a way that has informed the design specification and operation of our new 50kVA H-Power S Series emissions-free genset.
“Decarbonisation of the construction industry, in the UK, Europe and internationally is an important step in society’s move towards Net Zero”, the AFC boss added. “This development highlights the importance that leadership plays in driving long term sustainable change across this industry.”
