AFC Energy debuts in high power density fuel cell industry with ABB validation

As part of its Sales and Development Agreement with ABB E-mobility, AFC Energy has successfully delivered its first high performance, high power density liquid cooled fuel cells for independent validation.

Sent to Germany for independent validation in October 2022, the liquid-cooled technology, also known as the “S+” Series, marks AFC Energy’s debut in the high power density fuel cell industry.

The achievement marks the beginning of a two-stage development process that was initially announced in November 2021 and will now result in a modular 200kW high power fuel cell system that is expected to operate for the first time later this year, followed by product certification right after. ABB E-mobility will thereafter purchase the cutting-edge 200kW hydrogen power generation unit (together with the battery system).

Initially intended for high power EV charging, the modular fuel cell design was agreed upon with ABB E-mobility. Nevertheless, ABB E-mobility has also recognized essential backup power generation as a new potential market for the S+ Series. The Company’s foray into the marine, larger scale off-grid, and critical backup power industries will be based on the S+ Series technology.

AFC Energy has been collaborating with cutting edge manufacturing for low cost fuel cell technology with a major focus on a lower Total Cost of Ownership (“TCO”). This first successful validation follows a production strategy thought to be one of the approaches to produce fuel cell stacks at the lowest possible cost.

Representatives from ABB E-mobility, AFC Energy, and German engineering firm, IAV, were present when the S+ Series stacks were validated at an independent IAV testing facility in Germany.

Over 100kW of cumulative net power output from the stacks were successfully delivered as part of the validation, exceeding the agreed-upon targets. This puts AFC Energy in a strong position as it moves into the next phase with ABB E-mobility to deliver a modular, 200kW hydrogen power generator this year that is hydrogen-fueled and emission-free.