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Acta, the AIM-listed catalyst developer, has launched a prototype of the world’s first platinumfree disposable fuel cell utilising two-cell and four-cell units for use in low power applications. The first order was supplied to a customer at the end of December 2007.
Prototypes of the two - and four-cell units
This launch is an important step towards Acta’s commercial exploitation of the disposable fuel cell – a product cheap enough to compete with existing battery technologies, yet with compelling performance and environmental advantages.
The disposable fuel cell offers Acta a significant commercial opportunity because, unlike a oneoff sale of a fuel cell system to replace a lithium ion battery, disposable fuel cells offer the potential for repeat revenues. Acta expects further commercial progress with its disposable fuel cell technology in the first half of 2008.
This launch confirms Acta’s growing commercial success with its catalyst products in a wide range of applications. Acta’s disposable unit is expected to offer greater energy density and duration than lead acid or alkaline batteries, and to contain no hazardous materials when fully expended. The disposal of current battery technologies presents an environmental problem and a significant cost to industrial users.
Acta has been a pioneer in the development of platinum-free fuel cells using its unique HYPERMEC branded catalysts and alkaline membrane fuel cells (AMFC). The removal of expensive platinum from fuel cell catalysts is essential in order to make fuel cells price competitive with current battery technologies. Trials of Acta’s single fuel cells have been underway with global portable electronics and automotive companies. In response to customer demand, Acta has now developed two and four cell units in a single block which will supply more power at a higher voltage than the single units currently available.
Acta now has revenue earning customer relationships for its catalyst products in the automotive, waste treatment, portable electronics and battery industries. Acta recently announced its first major development contract with a global OEM and with Sumitomo Corporation, its Asian partner.
Toby Woolrych, Chief Operating Officer, commented:
"Today’s launch is a significant step towards the commercialisation of fuel cell technologies containing Acta catalysts as a direct replacement for low power batteries. Acta continues to make good commercial progress in a range of high growth industries. We are commercially engaged with a number of high quality customers and we are confident of continuing success across all applications for our technology in 2008."
For further information, please contact:
Acta S.p.A:
Toby Woolrych, Chief Operating Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7360 4900
Smithfield Consultants:
George Hudson / Katie Hunt / Will Henderson
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7360 4900
Numis:
David Poutney / Alex Ham
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7260 1000
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Notes to Editors:
Acta S.p.A.
Acta develops and manufactures unique patented catalysts which have been launched initially to the renewable energy, automotive and portable electronics/battery markets.
Acta’s catalysts for ammonia decomposition into hydrogen offer the automotive industry access to a practical hydrogen carrier for the first time. The catalysts extract hydrogen from ammonia at room temperature, allowing ammonia, one of the most widely used chemicals in the world, to become a fuel for automotive use, solving the problem of hydrogen storage and transportation.
Acta’s catalyst range for alkaline membrane fuel cells allows fuel cell developers to stop using expensive platinum so that fuel cells can be made commercially viable for mass adoption, particularly in automotive and portable electronics applications. Adoption of HYPERMEC catalysts greatly reduces the cost of fuel cells and additionally allows for the first time the use of a wide range of safe liquid bio-fuels such as ethanol and glycerol.
Simple passive alkaline membrane fuel cells can act as a high performance and environmentally friendly alternative to lead acid and alkaline batteries at a commercially acceptable price.
Acta is also developing other commercial opportunities using its catalysts for waste treatment in the bio-fuel, polymer and other industries.
Further information
Sumitomo Partnership and Investment
Acta has a long term marketing agreement with Sumitomo Corporation, Japan’s premier trading corporation, which confers enormous competitive advantage to Acta when doing business with major Asian customers. Acta announced in July a £4.6m investment by Sumitomo Corporation together with a further £1.15m placing with UK institutions. At the same time Acta and Sumitomo entered into a new Marketing Agreement with the initial fixed term extended to ten years and provisions contemplating collaboration in future ventures in the Asian region.
Major development contract
Acta announced in November that it has been awarded a major revenue earning 16 month development contract by Sumitomo Corporation and a global OEM based in Asia. This contract will be worth €0.6m in the first four months and is expected to offer a material cash inflow to Acta over the sixteen month period. The contract is for the development of its catalysts for fuel cells and for hydrogen generation from both ammonia and ethanol. Clear commercial objectives have been identified and routes to market agreed.
Ammonia electrolyser
In January 2007 Acta announced that it had developed a novel catalyst which could produce hydrogen from ammonia at room temperature by electrolysis. This electrolyser was demonstrated in February at the world’s largest fuel cell exhibition in Tokyo and has subsequently been attracting attention at exhibitions world-wide. The ammonia electrolyser is a breakthrough because ammonia is a very widely available and practical fuel for carbon-free motoring. Use of ammonia avoids the critical problems of hydrogen storage and transportation currently faced by fuel cell developers. The new electrolyser releases the hydrogen for use in a fuel cell using a fraction of the electrical input and at a much lower temperature than any other process. The Acta development therefore makes possible for the first time the on-board supply of hydrogen for automotive fuel cells from a practical fuel source. A demonstration unit, called the “Power Profit”, has been launched in November 2007 and several orders have been received.
Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells
Acta has developed a range of platinum free catalysts to be used in a type of fuel cell called Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cell (AMFC). The extensive use of scarce and expensive platinum severely restricts the commercial potential for fuel cells to be used in mass market applications. Acta has been a market leader in developing not just the catalysts but also systems expertise with AMFC. Acta is seeing increasing evidence that many leading companies and technical institutes in the field are now also seeing the commercial potential for AMFC, as evidenced by recent demonstrations by Daihatsu of AMFC technology.
Disposable AMFC
Acta’s unique low cost catalysts allow fuel cell technology to be used as disposable units to replace lead acid and alkaline batteries. However, they have much higher energy densities which means that they need be replaced less often. There are many industrial applications where the replacement and disposal of batteries is a major cost, offering Acta a significant commercial opportunity. The contents of an Acta AMFC with glycerol fuel will be much less environmentally hazardous to dispose of once expended.
Waste treatment
Acta has developed catalysts that are highly active for bio-glycerol and ammonia. Whilst these chemicals are potentially fuels of the future, they are also unwanted waste products from existing industrial processes such as bio-diesel manufacture and polymer production. Acta is seeking early commercial success for its catalysts by offering them for waste treatment solutions, thereby cleaning the environment today as well as offering green energy options for the future. |
