LONDON, UK: AFC Energy (AIM: AFC), a leading provider of hydrogen power generation technologies, announced its partnership with Kier Group plc for the initial lease of its new Power Tower clean Hydrogen power generator units for deployment to a UK construction site.

Kier is a leading provider of infrastructure services and construction, whose purpose is to sustainably deliver infrastructure which is vital to the UK.

Highlights

·       Kier to lease an initial Power Tower set for deployment on an active UK construction site in the second half of 2022.

·       AFC Energy will source and supply Hydrogen fuel to site on commercial terms, where Kier will operate the system.

·       The Power Tower will power onsite cabins and is the first hydrogen fuel cell deployment undertaken by Kier.

·       AFC Energy’s Power Tower is uniquely suited to construction site usage due to the logistical flexibility afforded by its zero emission Hybrid Fuel Cell (“HFC”) technology.

·    The lease will provide a basis for a longer-term collaboration with the aim of delivering additional fuel cell systems in 2023.

Kier has a carbon reduction target to reach Net Zero by 2045, for both business operations and value chain carbon and this includes the transition away from on-site fossil fuel power generators. 

Kier and AFC Energy are today announcing a partnership that will see a clean Hydrogen power generator unit, utilising AFC Energy’s new Hybrid Fuel Cell (“HFC”) technology, being deployed at a Kier construction site in the South West. The zero emission HFC generators will offset power currently provided by diesel generators, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the Kier site. 

The decision to lease AFC Energy’s system is driven not only by a desire to show immediate leadership in the decarbonisation of UK construction sites and improve air quality around urban construction sites, but also as a consequence of rising and uncertain diesel costs with geopolitical events impacting fossil fuel prices across the world.

AFC Energy has agreed to source and supply Hydrogen to Kier on commercial terms with support provided to Kier to operate the system on a day-to-day basis. The agreement also sets an opportunity for the two companies to explore a longer-term commercial partnership across multiple UK sites with potential deployment of additional fuel cell systems in 2023.

This deployment of AFC Energy’s next generation HFC system continues to highlight the growing and immediate need for construction and temporary power operators displace diesel generators with zero emission power systems as part of a portfolio approach to industry’s decarbonisation.

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.”

Adam Bond, Chief Executive Officer at AFC Energy, said: “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.”