AFC Energy Plc (LON:AFC), the cleantech company behind the development of low cost alkaline fuel cell technology, has been chosen as a key component in a clean coal proposal for a project based in the North East of England. The move is part of an ongoing partnership between AFC, B9 Coal Ltd and Linc Energy (ASX:LNC), which together are proposing to build the first large scale demonstration of alkaline fuel cell technology in a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.

The proposal for 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation from clean coal is being put forward by B9 Coal for the Department of Energy and Climate Change's CCS demonstration competition. Rio Tinto Alcan's Lynemouth plant in Northumberland has been announced as a potential site for the plant. The proposal has full support from the North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) and environmental project facilitators, Renew.

The project will showcase a combination of key technologies including Linc Energy's underground coal gasification (UCG) and AFC Energy's low cost alkaline fuels cells. UCG and the processing of the gasses it produces results in separate streams of captured hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2). Whilst the hydrogen can then be used to power fuel cells, the CO2 is ready for storage. Using fuel cells electricity can be produced from hydrogen with an efficiency of up to 60% at projected costs as low as 4 to 5 pence per kWh. Upwards of 90% of the CO2 is captured as a by-product.

Ian Balchin, AFC’s chief executive, said: “AFC Energy is delighted to be part of such an exciting project. It provides the UK with a genuine opportunity for enhanced energy security whilst meeting demand for clean energy from domestic coal reserves. Our fuel cell technology will allow the lowest possible unit cost electricity alongside hugely efficient power generation' "The proposal illustrates the growing understanding of the fundamental role that AFC Energy's fuel cell will play in the transition to a low carbon future.”

Alisa Murphy, a director of B9 Coal, said: “At a time when the government is expressing a desire to show global leadership on CCS, B9 Coal and its consortium partners are offering a project that has the potential to become a world-leading template. AFC Energy's fuel cell technology has the potential to provide us with the first commercially viable and scalable option.…

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