AFC Energy revealed today (June 20) a partnership to supply Kier Group, an infrastructure services and construction provider, with its ‘Power Town’ clean hydrogen power generator unit on lease.
It is hoped the leasing will offset power currently provided by diesel generators, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the Kier site at a time of rising and uncertain diesel costs.
H2 View understands AFC Energy will source and supply hydrogen to fuel the generator unit on commercial terms, with Kier operating the system.
The unit utilises AFC Energy’s Hybrid Fuel Cell (HFC) technology, unveiled in December 2021, which can accept fuelling from both hydrogen and reformed methanol.
Read more: AFC Energy confirms new hybrid fuel cell technology launch for early next year
Chris Lilley, Health, Safety, Wellbeing, and Sustainability Director at Kier Group, said, “This upcoming trial further demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and finding innovative solutions that will reduce our carbon footprint and help our clients and customers deliver against their targets too.
“To meet our Net Zero carbon targets outlined in our Building for a Sustainable World framework, it’s crucial that we continue to work with credible supply chain partners and trial new innovations. Following on from the trial in the South West, we will assess other sites that we can use the Power Tower on.”
The UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) last week supported a hydrogen powered generator project with its £40m ($48.7m) Red Diesel replacement competition.
Read more: Hydrogen fuel cell generators to be developed with UK Government funding
Adam Bond, CEO of AFC Energy, commented, “We are delighted to be partnering with Kier in support of their decarbonisation initiatives here in the UK through deployment of our hydrogen fuel cell technology.
“Contractors and plant hire businesses are under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse emissions and improve air quality; we are confident that our hydrogen fuel cells will play an important role in delivering a Net Zero UK construction industry.”
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