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Fuel Cell Power has been set up by the family and friends of the late Dr F T Bacon, OBE, FRS, the fuel cell pioneer. We have no commercial interests and provide the facts about all types of fuel cells and their supporting infrastructure.
Tom Bacon developed the first practical working fuel cell and was delighted when his design was used successfully in the Apollo Space project. The next stage was to encourage the widespread application of fuel cells. The basic difficulty is that existing technologies are refined through practical experience and the long development times make it more difficult to introduce and fund new, more effective methods.
He believed that local fuel cells could be introduced to provide a clean, efficient source of electricity, independent of the national grid.
His vision extended far into the future and he was concerned about the effects of burning fossil fuels and discharging the products of combustion into the atmosphere. Apart from the damage caused to our cities and countryside by air pollution, climate change could pose a danger for future generations and contribute to the loss of many species.
To the end of his life in 1992, Tom Bacon actively supported the developers of fuel cell technologies and passed on to those entering the field his 60 years of expertise. His big ambition was to develop the fuel cell to power transport and he was excited to see the first prototype hydrogen fuel cell powered buses coming into operation in Europe and Canada.
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Tom Bacon's family and friends continue his promotional work through Fuel Cell Power’s efforts to provide full and accurate information about all types of fuel cells. |
Fuel Cell Power is promoting the implementation of hydrogen fuel cells, particularly in conjunction with renewable energy sources. The burning of fossil fuels must be superseded by this new clean and efficient method of electrochemical conversion of fuel.
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The daughter of Tom Bacon, Daphne Vivian-Neal is seen here on the fuel cell powered Palcan scooter at the recent Grove Symposium. Jean Aldous, who set up Fuel Cell Power with help from Daphne and her brother Edward Bacon, is seen in the background discussing the merits of the scooter. | |