AFC Energy, the low cost fuel cell provider, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with WSP Environmental Limited (trading as WSP Environment & Energy and its sister company CEL International Ltd, an engineering, procurement and construction management ("EPCM") provider, under which they will begin contributing a range of services to AFC Energy in preparation for full scale deployment of fuel cell power stations. Both WSP Environment & Energy and CEL International are part of the WSP Group plc (LSE: WSH). AFC Energy and WSP Group had previously announce previously announced on 7th January 2010 the intention to work together on a SuperGreen Power Station, a showcase demonstration of the Company's fuel cell.
These services provided by WSP Group under the MoU will include: investigations into legislative requirements, planning issues and engineering matters as well as assistance with product assembly requirements and other manufacturing operations - including assistance with the production of component parts and final assembly operations.
AFC Energy consider WSP Group to be a primary partner for deploying its fuel cell systems, specifically where the electricity supply company ("ESCO") model or leasing model is utilised.
WSP Group has offices in Brisbane and will support the initial deployment of an Alpha fuel cell system to Linc Energy's Chinchilla plant on behalf of the Company.
Ian Balchin, AFC Energy, Chief Executive said:
"This is a significant relationship for AFC Energy. Our technology is progressing rapidly towards commercialisation with an array of deployment opportunities in place now with Akzo Nobel, Ineos Chlor Vinyl, Linc Energy, Centrica and Waste2Tricity. The relationship with WSP Group provides the operational deployment resource to enable the technology to be physically delivered to the end user, efficiently and quickly."
Stuart McLachlan (Managing Director of Global Operations for (http://www.wspenvironmental.com) WSP Environment & Energy) said:
"WSP is an organisation that prides itself as being innovative and supporting initiatives that are at the cutting edge of renewables technology and we are delighted to be involved in this exciting project. We have worked indirectly with AFC Energy via Waste2Tricity for over a year and we can see the potential of AFC's fuel cells in a number of markets and believe it could play a role in not only enabling us to flex into a low carbon future, but as being one of the emerging technologies that can fill the looming energy gap."
