ACAL Energy

ACAL Energy Ltd. operated as a chemical company focused on developing and licensing technology to lower the cost of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The company was established in the UK in August 2004 by Dr. Andrew Creeth and Amanda Lyne. Dr. Creeth, the inventor of the core technology, brought over 20 years of experience in industrial R&D from his time at Unilever, holding 17 patents.

The company’s core business model centered on the intellectual property and licensing of its flagship technology, FlowCath®. This technology utilized a proprietary, platinum-free liquid catalyst to replace the expensive solid platinum cathodes found in conventional PEM fuel cells. The liquid catalyst, a polyoxometallate inorganic complex, would circulate through the fuel cell and an external regenerator, which not only reduced costs by up to 90% but also managed heat and humidification, removing the need for other complex subsystems. This approach aimed to significantly decrease the capital costs and improve the durability of fuel cell systems. A key achievement was reaching 10,000 hours of runtime in an automotive industry durability test with no significant degradation, surpassing the U.S. Department of Energy's 2017 target.

ACAL Energy targeted several markets, including stationary power, combined heat and power (CHP) systems, and automotive applications. For non-grid power, their modules were presented as alternatives to generators and batteries for backup power needs. In the commercial CHP space, the technology promised a more cost-effective solution for sites needing more electricity than heat. The ultimate long-term focus was the automotive sector, with the goal of making fuel cell vehicles more affordable. The company raised approximately $20.8 million over several funding rounds from investors including Carbon Trust, Parkwalk Advisors, and I2BF Global Ventures. However, ACAL Energy is no longer active, having entered liquidation in March 2017.

Keywords: Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells, PEM, FlowCath, liquid catalyst, platinum-free catalyst, hydrogen fuel cells, clean energy, fuel cell technology, automotive fuel cells, stationary power, combined heat and power, CHP, fuel cell durability, licensing, intellectual property, venture capital, energy storage, Andrew Creeth, Runcorn, chemical company