Swedish government to invest £5.2m in Volvo’s fuel cell technology

The Swedish government's venture capital company for the automotive industry, Fouriertransform, is making its first investment of SEK60 million (£5.2 million) in Powercell Sweden AB, which develops, produces and sells fuel cells, fuel reformers and auxillary power units.

"We regard it as very positive that Powercell will gain an additional strong financial owner. This will enable us to be a long-term partner in heavy industrial development projects," says Per Wassén, chairman of Powercell Sweden AB and Investment Director at Volvo Technology Transfer.

Fouriertransform's investment will be made by a directed share issue, i.e. money is injected directly into the company in exchange for new shares. Through Volvo Technology Transfer, AB Volvo will remain as the largest owner of Powercell Sweden AB, with more than 40% of the shares. The other owners are OCAS, Midroc New Technology and Fouriertransform.

"We have come to know the enterprise and the people behind it, and are looking forward to a trustful cooperation," says Hans Golteus, acting CEO of Fouriertransform. "We are convinced that this is a good investment for the industry, with potential for high profitability."

As recently as the beginning of July, the major companies Midroc and OCAS, along with the Swedish Energy Agency and Volvo Technology Transfer, made a joint investment of SEK200 million (£17.3 million)in Powercell Sweden AB in Göteborg.

"We are busy staffing the company and have received more than 1,000 highly qualified applicants for our advertised jobs," says Per Wassén. "This will make Powercell the largest fuel cell plant in northern Europe," says Per Wassén.

A fuel cell can be compared with a small battery that operates on hydrogen. During a chemical reaction, the hydrogen is converted to electricity with no other waste but water.

To resolve the issue of hydrogen gas accessibility, Powercell will initially produce hydrogen gas from such existing fuels as biofuel and gasoline or diesel. Compared with normal diesel or gasoline-operated electrical aggregates, Powercell`s product will generate considerably less carbon dioxide emissions, and no emissions whatsoever of particles, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The fuel cells are also more efficient, smaller and more silent.

Powercell Sweden's product has been developed by Volvo Technology for more than 15 years and is based on two patented components: a fuel converter (reformer) and a PEM fuel cell - the type of fuel cell most often used in transport applications. The fuel converter produces hydrogen gas from bio fuels such as ethanol, DME (Dimethyl ether), biogas, methanol and biodiesel, but also from regular diesel or petrol.

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