AFC Energy
H-Power plc (formerly AFC Energy) develops modular ammonia-to-hydrogen crackers and hydrogen fuel cell generators that deliver zero-emission, off-grid power as a drop-in replacement for diesel, targeting construction, infrastructure, and industrial customers primarily in the UK.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersCranleigh, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What AFC Energy does
H-Power plc (formerly AFC Energy, rebranded in 2025) is a UK-based energy technology company that develops and commercialises hydrogen fuel cell power generation systems intended to replace diesel generators in off-grid applications. The company's integrated offering centres on two proprietary products: the HY5 ammonia cracker, a modular, containerised unit that converts ammonia into fuel-cell-grade hydrogen on-site and on-demand, and the LC30, a 30 kW liquid-cooled hydrogen fuel cell generator marketed as a drop-in diesel replacement with quiet, low-vibration, zero-emission operation. Together these products form a complete hydrogen-to-power stack, validated at the Dunsfold pilot plant where the company is approved to produce ISO 14687 Grade D hydrogen at 99.97% purity at up to 300 kg/day.
The company serves enterprise customers in construction, infrastructure, quarrying, rail, motorsport, and industrial backup power, with reference deployments at Keltbray, Kier, Taylor Woodrow (VINCI Group), Colas Rail, Mace Dragados JV (HS2), ACCIONA, Extreme E, and Urban-Air Port. Commercial activity currently operates on three complementary revenue streams: hardware sales of LC30 generators and HY5 crackers, engineering services (e.g., a $2 million project with Komatsu), and a subscription-style Fuel-as-a-Service (FaaS) model that allows customers to access hydrogen power without upfront capital outlay. Hydrogen production is being scaled through a 50:50 joint venture with ICL at Port Clarence (initial capacity up to 400 kg/day) and through direct sales of low-carbon hydrogen from Dunsfold following UK Environment Agency approval. Manufacturing of the LC30 is outsourced to Volex, while hydrogen distribution leverages ICL's chemical-industry logistics network.
AFC Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AFC Energy
- Legal name
- H-Power plc
- Website
- https://afcenergy.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- H-Power plc (formerly AFC Energy) develops modular ammonia-to-hydrogen crackers and hydrogen fuel cell generators that deliver zero-emission, off-grid power as a drop-in replacement for diesel, targeting construction, infrastructure, and industrial customers primarily in the UK.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AFC Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Systems
- NAICS
- Electric Power Generation (22111), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)
- SIC
- Motors & Generators (3621), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fuel Cell Distributed Generation (Hydrogen/Natural Gas SOFC/PEM) (EUACALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hydrogen Energy Storage & Power-to-X Equipment (electrolyzers, storage, fuel cell systems) (IMAGAHAM), Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC), Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility) (IMAEACAB)
Keywords
Where AFC Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cranleigh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
AFC Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generators (LC30): Sale of hydrogen fuel cell power generation systems for off-grid applications, targeting construction, industrial, and transportation sectors as diesel replacement.
- Ammonia Crackers (Hy-5): Modular, containerised ammonia cracking units sold for on-site hydrogen production. Scalable through parallel deployment of multiple units.
- Fuel-as-a-Service (FaaS): Subscription-style model providing hydrogen power access without upfront capital expenditure. Customers pay for power generated rather than equipment ownership.
- Engineering Services: Engineering project revenue including the $2m Komatsu engineering project for technology validation and market development.
- Hydrogen Sales: Sale of low-carbon hydrogen produced at the Dunsfold pilot plant following Environment Agency regulatory approval for hydrogen export and sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Fuel-as-a-Service (FaaS) model |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
AFC Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AFC Energy (now H-Power plc) manufactures and commercialises an integrated hydrogen-to-power system for off-grid applications. Its HY5 ammonia cracker produces fuel cell grade hydrogen on-site from ammonia, and its LC30 hydrogen fuel cell generator converts that hydrogen into quiet, zero-emission electrical power as a drop-in replacement for diesel generators. The system is sold as hardware or delivered through a Fuel-as-a-Service subscription model.
Product overview
H-Power (formerly AFC Energy) offers a two-product hydrogen energy system portfolio: the HY5 ammonia cracker produces low-carbon hydrogen on-site from ammonia, while the LC30 hydrogen fuel cell generator converts that hydrogen into clean electrical power. Together, these products enable zero-emission power generation for off-grid applications as an alternative to diesel, delivered under a Fuel-as-a-Service model.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LC30 Generator: 30 kW liquid cooled hydrogen fuel cell generator, quiet, low vibration operation, drop in replacement for diesel generators
- HY5 Ammonia Cracker
Products and services
- H-Power LC30 Fuel Cell Generator 30 kW liquid-cooled hydrogen fuel cell generator that converts hydrogen from the HY5 or any other supply into clean, quiet, reliable electrical power, designed as a drop-in replacement for diesel generators in construction, industrial, and mobility applications.
- H-Power HY5 Ammonia Cracker Modular, containerised ammonia cracker that converts ammonia into fuel cell grade hydrogen on-site and on-demand, with scalable throughput achievable by deploying parallel units.
- Fuel-as-a-Service (FaaS) Subscription-style offering that lets customers access hydrogen power without upfront capital expenditure by paying for the power generated rather than purchasing the equipment, enabling zero-capex transition from diesel generators.
- Low-Carbon Hydrogen Supply Commercial sale of low-carbon hydrogen produced at the Dunsfold pilot ammonia-cracking plant at ISO 14687 Grade D purity (99.97%) to industrial customers, with capacity of up to 300kg per day and additional scalable supply via the ICL joint venture.
- Engineering Project Services Engineering project services delivered to partners such as Komatsu ($2m engineering project) for technology validation and market development of hydrogen power systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 300kg per day hydrogen production capacity at Dunsfold pilot plant
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use AFC Energy
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AFC Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
AFC Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ICL (Industrial Chemicals Group Ltd)core50:50 joint venture to produce low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen from ammonia using AFC Energy's proprietary cracking technology. Initial production capacity of up to 400kg/day, scalable through containerised Hy-5 crackers, targeting UK market without reliance on government subsidies. ICL contributes chemical industry expertise, logistics infrastructure, and customer base.
- VolexcoreManufacturing partnership for LC30 hydrogen fuel cell generator production. Volex handles manufacturing while AFC Energy provides technology and specifications.
- Komatsuminor$2 million engineering project for technology validation and market development. Represents early-stage commercial engagement with major heavy equipment manufacturer.
- Brett AggregatesminorDemonstration partnership validating hydrogen-powered generators replacing diesel in aggregate production and quarrying operations. Live operational environments demonstrated reliable power delivery with zero on-site emissions.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AFC Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ballard Power Systems: PEM fuel cell systems provider serving mobility and stationary power markets including backup power and off-grid applications. Highly comparable to H-Power's LC30 fuel cell generator business, with a broader product portfolio and deeper commercial track record.
- Plug Power: Hydrogen fuel cell systems company focused on mobility and stationary power applications. Comparable to H-Power as a fuel cell technology provider targeting diesel-displacement use cases, though Plug Power operates at significantly larger scale and primarily in North America.
- SFC Energy: German-based provider of hydrogen and methanol fuel cell solutions for off-grid, backup, and mobile power applications. Closely comparable to H-Power's LC30 use case of replacing diesel generators in remote and critical-power applications.
- Powercell Sweden: Swedish fuel cell stack and system developer producing PEM fuel cell technology for stationary power and mobility applications. Comparable technology platform to H-Power's LC30, with similar European market focus.
- Intelligent Energy: UK-based PEM fuel cell developer producing fuel cell systems for automotive, stationary, and UAV applications. Direct technology peer to H-Power with overlapping customer base in zero-emission power replacement.
- Nel ASA: Norwegian hydrogen technology company producing electrolyzers and hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Comparable to H-Power's hydrogen production ambitions (via the HY5 cracker) and adjacent to its fuel cell power generation strategy.
- ITM Power: UK-based hydrogen equipment company producing PEM electrolyzers for green hydrogen production. Comparable UK AIM-listed hydrogen pure-play focused on enabling hydrogen supply, complementary to H-Power's downstream fuel cell consumption.
Broad incumbents
- Cummins Accelera: Cummins' hydrogen and fuel cell business (incorporating the former Hydrogenics business) offering PEM fuel cell systems for stationary and mobility applications. Comparable to H-Power as a fuel cell competitor, with substantially greater resources and a broader powertrain portfolio including the diesel generators H-Power seeks to displace.
- Doosan Fuel Cell: South Korean fuel cell systems provider focused on stationary solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power generation for commercial and industrial customers. Comparable to H-Power as a stationary fuel cell power system competitor targeting industrial clean power applications.
Emerging players
- GenH2: US-based hydrogen infrastructure company developing liquid hydrogen solutions and ammonia-to-hydrogen conversion technologies. Conceptually comparable to H-Power's HY5 ammonia cracker approach, representing an emerging competitive technology pathway.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AFC Energy social profiles
Digital presenceAFC Energy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
AFC Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AFC Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
AFC Energy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
AFC Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AFC Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AFC Energy
What does AFC Energy do?
AFC Energy (now H-Power plc) manufactures and commercialises an integrated hydrogen-to-power system for off-grid applications. Its HY5 ammonia cracker produces fuel cell grade hydrogen on-site from ammonia, and its LC30 hydrogen fuel cell generator converts that hydrogen into quiet, zero-emission electrical power as a drop-in replacement for diesel generators. The system is sold as hardware or delivered through a Fuel-as-a-Service subscription model.
Is AFC Energy a public or private company?
AFC Energy is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was AFC Energy founded?
AFC Energy was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is AFC Energy based?
AFC Energy is headquartered in Cranleigh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does AFC Energy make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generators (LC30) is the primary driver. The others are ammonia Crackers (Hy-5), fuel-as-a-Service (FaaS), engineering Services and hydrogen Sales.
Who are AFC Energy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ballard Power Systems, Plug Power, SFC Energy, Powercell Sweden, Intelligent Energy, Nel ASA and ITM Power. Broad incumbents are Cummins Accelera and Doosan Fuel Cell. GenH2 is listed as an emerging player.
Does AFC Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for AFC Energy.
What industry is AFC Energy in?
AFC Energy's product category is Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUACALAK, Fuel Cell Distributed Generation (Hydrogen/Natural Gas SOFC/PEM), with a secondary code of IMAGAHAM, Hydrogen Energy Storage & Power-to-X Equipment (electrolyzers, storage, fuel cell systems). Its NAICS code is 22111 and its SIC code is 3621.