LONDON: AFC Energy, a provider of hydrogen power technology, announced Tuesday it has signed a joint development agreement with heavy equipment manufacturer Komatsu Ltd. to explore creating an ammonia-fueled engine for construction and mining machinery.
The agreement, also involving Komatsu affiliate Industrial Power Alliance Ltd., aims to integrate AFC Energy’s ammonia cracking technology with a Komatsu diesel engine. The goal is to assess the feasibility of a new engine platform that could run on liquid ammonia with minimal modifications.
The joint development agreement, valued at approximately $2 million and dependent on milestone achievements, would allow Komatsu to offer customers a potential alternative, sustainable fuel option for equipment fleets.
“We are delighted to have signed this JDA with Komatsu, whose commitment to AFC Energy’s proprietary ammonia cracker technology provides further industry peer validation,” said John Wilson, CEO of AFC Energy.
Komatsu, a Japan-based company with a market capitalization of about $43 billion, is a leading manufacturer of construction, mining and forestry equipment.
“Our goal is to achieve a sustainable society and facilitate business growth,” said Taisuke Kusaba, chief technology officer of Komatsu. “We envisage AFC Energy’s ammonia cracking technology as potentially playing an important role in fulfilling our goal.”
AFC Energy, listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, said the project highlights its strategy of delivering hydrogen-to-power solutions at a commercially viable price without government subsidies.