UK board invests £9M in fuel cells, hydrogen technology

The UK government-sponsored Technology Strategy Board said today it is making a £9 million ($14.7 million) investment in nine projects to develop fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. The projects are expected to receive an additional £8 million from participating companies.

The Swindon, Wiltshire-based board invests in projects involving business and researchers that are working to produce innovative new technology-based products and services.

The projects are expected to include a £1.9 million effort spearheaded by Runcorn, Cheshire-based ACAL Energy to develop a fuel cell using what it said is low-cost, platinum-free cathode technology. 

ACAL, which develops proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells systems, says its fuel cell design reduces the amount of platinum needed by 80 percent. Platinum is considered a scarce and costly material, although it helps to speed chemical reactions in hydrogen fuel cells.

Earlier this year, ACAL raised an undisclosed amount of funding from SC Green Tech Ventures, in addition to a previously announced £3.3 million ($4.9 million) round raised in 2008 from a number of investors including Japan’s Honda Motor (see Ethanol and building materials soak up the green).

Another one of the Technology Strategy Board projects is being led by Loughborough, England-based PEM fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy. The three-year £2.8 million project is expected to improve the company’s fuel cells for commercial and passenger vehicles.

Intelligent Energy raised $30 million in July to accelerate the commercialization of its fuel cell power systems, which are being used in light aircraft and motorbikes (see Intelligent Energy secures $30M to commercialize its fuel cell power systems).

Specifics about the other seven projects of the Technology Strategy Board were not disclosed.