26 June 2024

AFC Energy PLC

("AFC Energy" or the "Company")

AFC Energy's Ammonia Cracker Integration Improves Engine Combustion Performance

AFC Energy (AIM: AFC), a leading provider of hydrogen power generation technologies, is pleased to announce that Dr. Mike Rendall, Chief Technology Officer of the Company's Fuel Conversion Division, is today presenting the opening keynote speech at MariNH3's 2024 Conference. 

The presentation will highlight the positive results achieved to date through adoption of AFC Energy's novel ammonia cracker technology to improve the combustion and emissions of future ammonia fuelled maritime engines. 

Highlights:

·      AFC Energy has successfully operated its ammonia cracker reactor technology alongside a MAHLE Powertrain combustion test engine fuelled principally by ammonia. 

·      The ammonia cracker provided a pilot fuel, operating in a ratio of 80:20 (ammonia : cracked gas) that delivered improved operating performance when compared to ammonia combustion alone. 

·      The Cracker was able to generate hydrogen on-demand and co-blend with additional ammonia to make a resulting flammable fuel gas stream that was fed into the engine injection system.  The compact fast-start Cracker dynamically supported the fuelling needs of the test engine and achieved stable performance on the first trials.

·      Enhanced burn characteristics from the cracked gas blend (75% Hydrogen:25% Nitrogen) are designed to improve engine performance evidenced by stable operation and increased efficiency (reduced fuel consumption) with reduced (zero carbon) pollutant emissions.

·      Success in cracker integration with ammonia engines means maritime propulsion can be achieved with a single ammonia fuel without the need for dual (fossil) fuels as is currently the case in several ammonia combustion engine developments.

·      The "Enhanced Ammonia Cracking to Improve Engine Combustion and Emissions" ("ENTICE") project is led by AFC Energy with partners including MAHLE Powertrain, Nottingham University and Clean Air Power (funded by InnovateUK).

·      In addition to maritime applications, AFC Energy is also assessing applications with partners for ammonia combustion engine and cracker integration across land based hydrogen production and in the fuelling of large off-road machinery such as that used in the mining industry. 

·      The ENTICE project is scheduled to continue until March 2025 enabling further system integration with larger multiple cylinder engines for testing across a range of operational parameters. 

Adam Bond, Chief Executive of AFC Energy, said:

"Ammonia cracking is a core part of AFC Energy's two division technology platform approach to supporting the hydrogen value chain. The results released today at the MariNH3 conference are a testament not only to the entire project team, but also to the growing opportunities emerging through the adoption of clean ammonia as the world's leading decarbonised fuel vector.  Our ammonia cracking technology affords a leading platform seeking to support production of low cost hydrogen for combustion or fuel cell applications, both on board vessels and on land."

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About AFC Energy

 AFC Energy plc is a leading provider of hydrogen energy solutions, to provide clean electricity for on and off grid power applications. The Company's fuel cell technology is targeting commercial deployment across the construction and temporary power markets with longer term opportunities in electric vehicle charging, maritime and data centres as part of a portfolio approach to the decarbonisation of society's growing electrification needs.  The Company's proprietary ammonia cracking technology further highlights emerging opportunities across the distributed hydrogen production market with a focus on hydrogen's role in supporting the decarbonisation of hard to abate industries.