CoalSwitch Full-Scale Reactor Test Completed

RNS Number : 6371A

Active Energy Group PLC

02 January 2018

 

Active Energy Group Plc / EPIC: AEG / Sector: Alternative Energy

2 January 2018

                             Active Energy Group Plc ('Active Energy', 'the Company' or 'the Group')

Update re Revolutionary CoalSwitch™ Plant; Initial Full-Scale Reactor Test Completed

Active Energy, the London quoted international biomass based renewable energy and forestry management business, is pleased to announce that the first testing of the five-tonne-per-hour CoalSwitch™ plant in Utah, United States ('the Plant') was successfully completed late on Friday 29 December 2017.  The initial results met all management expectations and further testing will continue this week.

The plant is now undergoing full commissioning which Active Energy expects to complete in the next several weeks, which will enable the Company to deliver commercial quantities of CoalSwitch™, its revolutionary fuel that that can be mixed in any ratio with coal fines or completely replace coal in existing coal-fired power stations, without retrofit, globally.

The first successful firing of the full-scale reactors proves that the technology is scalable to full commercial production and reinforces that the proven science developed represents a disruptive force for the global biomass industry.  The next stage will be to complete commercial orders for CoalSwitch™, including the first order to a full-scale coal-fired power plant in Utah, USA.

The Plant has been constructed on a modular basis allowing further scale-up to larger plant sizes giving greater volumes of production which Active Energy currently expects to be no smaller than 10 tonne per hour plants.  In addition, the Company's decision to construct the entire Plant in a containerised format allows for demounting and moving to global locations at short notice meaning that CoalSwitch™ plants can be located near to sources of wood waste or forestry residuals wherever they may be found.

Michael Rowan Active Energy Non-Executive Chairman said, "The first successful test firing of the Plant proves the technology and scalability of production.  Our unique biomass fuel technology will contribute hugely to the environment globally due to its unique qualities and ability to be a direct drop in coal replacement fuel, meaning that without the requirement for retrofit, coal plants anywhere can now reduce their usage of coal and decrease emissions without significant investment. 

"We are now entering the next phase of our development as we produce and deliver commercial quantities of production and receive first revenues from CoalSwitch™.  These are exciting times and we have already received much interest from governments and corporates alike due to CoalSwitch™'s unique qualities and ability to utilise all types of cellulosic biomass (including the lowest quality forestry waste and residuals, waste wood, and other by-products from the global forestry industry) and to blend with reclaimed coal fines or burn as a standalone coal replacement. The Group is now establishing its environmental credentials and is ready to work with governments and corporations in the near future."

CoalSwitch™, which is currently managed and operated by AEG's subsidiary company, Advanced Biomass Solutions Plc ('ABS'), is a unique, high-calorific, high bulk density, advanced biomass pellet behaving in the logistics and generating plants of utilities just like coal, albeit with all the environmental benefits of clean biomass; produced primarily from forestry waste and other industrial cellulose waste products.  Unlike the current ubiquitous white pellets and other Advanced Pellets, CoalSwitch™ can be mixed at any ratio with coal or completely replace coal in existing unmodified coal-fired power plants allowing 'dirty' plant operators to fulfil their environmental obligations without the need for extensive retrofitting of power station plant and handling/storage infrastructure. 

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014.

**ENDS**

Enquiries & Further Information:

Enquiries
Active Energy Group Plc	Michael Rowan Non-Executive Chairman	[e-mail]
	Richard Spinks Chief Executive Officer	[e-mail]
Northland Capital Partners Limited Nominated Adviser	Patrick Claridge/David Hignell/Gerry Beaney	Office: [phone]
Optiva Securities Ltd Broker	Graeme Dickson  Ed McDermott	Office: [phone]
St Brides Partners Financial PR Adviser	Isabel de Salis/Megan Dennison	[e-mail] Office: [phone]

About Active Energy Group:

Active Energy Group Plc (AIM: AEG.L) is a London Stock Exchange-listed international renewable energy business based upon forestry assets.  Its model is focussed on capturing the entire forestry value chain through sourcing, utilising and commercialising assets, and setting a new standard in the sustainable management and optimisation of timber resources.  The Company is led by a highly technical and commercial team with the experience to execute its defined growth strategy and build its visibility, primarily as a London-listed timber opportunity with a revolutionary biomass fuel technology.  It has two subsidiary companies:

·    Advanced Biomass Solutions Plc (www.abs-plc.com), which is commercialising a revolutionary biomass coal replacement fuel, CoalSwitch™; and

·    Timberlands International Ltd, a sustainable international forestry management business.

 

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