AFC Energy Deploys Fuel Cell At Linc Energy's UCG Facility

29th Jun 2010 07:49

LONDON (Dow Jones)--AFC Energy PLC(AFC.LN), a developer of low-cost alkaline fuel cells, said Tuesday an alkaline fuel cell system has been successfully deployed and operated at Linc Energy's (LNC.ASX) underground coal gasification, or UCG, demonstration facility in Chinchilla, Australia. MAIN FACTS: -Hydrogen produced from Linc Energy's UCG process is an ideal feedstock for AFC Energy's fuel cell systems. Linc Energy will utilize a simple membrane gas separation process on the UCG gases to ensure a rich hydrogen mix is available for the fuel cell system. -AFC engineers worked alongside Linc Energy personnel to train them and demonstrate the necessary procedures to enable Linc Energy to operate the fuel cell in the future with minimal assistance and to facilitate the upgrade to the Beta system as it is developed. -AFC Energy's and Linc Energy's integrated technologies have the potential to offer an enhanced efficiency conversion of coal to electricity, whilst enabling up to 99%. carbon capture; This combination provides potential access to billions of additional tons of coal in the U.K. without the environmental impacts of conventional underground or open cast mining. The alkaline fuel cell converts hydrogen to electricity at 60% efficiency and at an estimated cost per kilowatt hour as low as 4 pence. -The deployment of AFC Energy's Alpha fuel cell system builds upon an order and exclusivity agreement between Linc Energy, AFC Energy and U.K.-based B9 Coal Ltd signed in December 2009. -The relationship was instigated by B9 Coal which continues to lead the project. -Shares of AFC Energy on Monday closed at 19.3 pence, valuing the company at GBP29 million. --By Tapan Panchal, Dow Jones Newswires. Tel +44(0)207-842 9448, [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 29, 2010 02:49 ET (06:49 GMT)