AFC Energy

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.

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

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

• Hydrogen fuel cells
• Ammonia crackers
• Off-grid power generation
• Clean energy systems
• Diesel replacement generators

Headquarters

HQ city

Cranleigh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Ammonia Crackers (Hy-5): Modular, containerised ammonia cracking units sold for on-site hydrogen production. Scalable through parallel deployment of multiple units.
3. 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.
4. Engineering Services: Engineering project revenue including the $2m Komatsu engineering project for technology validation and market development.
5. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core 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

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ICL (Industrial Chemicals Group Ltd)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 202550:50 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.
• VolexcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerManufacturing partnership for LC30 hydrogen fuel cell generator production. Volex handles manufacturing while AFC Energy provides technology and specifications.
• KomatsuminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$2 million engineering project for technology validation and market development. Represents early-stage commercial engagement with major heavy equipment manufacturer.
• Brett AggregatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemonstration 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afc-energy-plc
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• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AFC Energy