ACAL Energy Ltd. was founded in 2004 to research and optimise Dr. Andrew Creeth’s invention for addressing the technical limitations of the cathode side of membrane based fuel cells.
Fuel cells are electrochemical devices which convert fuel directly into electricity more efficiently than the internal combustion engine, and have potentially higher energy storage than lithium-ion batteries (commonly used in laptops and other mobile electronics). There is a wide range of applications for fuel cell technology, such as consumer electronics, mobile and automotive applications.
ACAL Energy’s innovative FlowCath® technology removes the need for using precious metal catalysts such as platinum, resulting in a reduction in manufacturing costs and problems of sourcing. Potentially, an increase of between 2-5 times the power density of currently available technology is possible, while remaining the same size as lithium-ion batteries, benefiting mobile electronic applications such as laptops.
ACAL Energy Ltd. currently employs eleven people at The Heath Business & Technical Park, enjoying the benefits of being located in Halton such as the high-class chemical facilities of the Heath, being located between the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester and proximity to the Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network.
The company collaborates with several fuel cell research centres such as the University of Manchester, the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the Centre for Process Industries in Wilton, Teesside. Currently, research and development is focused on developing the prototype technology to a commercial application level.
ACAL Energy Ltd. has been very proactive in securing funding and investment for research and development of their innovative fuel cell technology. In 2005, they obtained a Feasibility Grant for R&D from (now known as a GRAND award). In 2007, ACAL Energy Ltd. started a Knowledge Transfer Partnership project in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Manchester. Total funding of £67,096 was made available to ‘develop intellectual property and know-how on a new system for fuel cell cathodes’.
ACAL Energy Ltd. has also received investments from the RisingStars Growth Fund (RSGF), managed by Enterprise Ventures Limited and also from Carbon Trust Investment Partners, in partnership with the RSGF, NorthStar Equity Investors and Porton Capital / Synergis Technologies to develop its FlowCath® low-temperature fuel cell cathode technology. ACAL Energy were also runners up in the prestigious Merseyside Innovation Awards 2007.
ACAL Energy Ltd., has recently completed a £3.3m fundraising round. Led by CT Investment Partners LLP, existing venture capital investors were joined by new investments from Solvay SA and a leading Japanese corporation. Funds raised will be used to take the company to the next stage of development of their ground-breaking low cost fuel cell systems.
For more details, contact:
Amanda Lyne
Chief Operating Officer
ACAL Energy Ltd.
The Heath Business & Technical Park
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 4QX
Tel: 01928 511581
Fax: 01928 511582
Web: www.acalenergy.co.uk
Email: info@acalenergy.co.uk