History
Intelligent Energy in the UK is located in Loughborough and London.
The Company has strong links to Loughborough, commencing in the late 1980s when Loughborough University’s Department of Chemistry collaborated with the Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering to create one of Europe’s first research and development teams, working on the development of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology.
The UK’s first kilowatt-level PEM fuel cell stack was constructed by the Loughborough team in 1995, and the commercial implications of the work became apparent. A University spin-out company was formed called Advanced Power Sources (APS) Ltd. APS was the first company established in the UK to specifically address the development and commercialisation of PEM fuel cells.
(Left: The first 1kW PEM fuel cell stack constructed in the UK at Loughborough University in 1995)
APS worked on the early prototyping of fuel cell products and on the pre-commercial development of its proprietary fuel cell technology, funded by the UK Government bodies as well as through joint development programmes with other commercial entities.
In 2001 Intelligent Energy was founded and attracted private finance capital upon the acquisition of APS. As a new, 25-strong company based both in Loughborough and in a new London office, it secured an irrevocable, worldwide licence to exploit all of both APS’s and the University group’s fuel cell related know-how, in addition to all the key staff from both entities.
Since 2001, the company has successfully made two further strategic acquisitions, which have enabled it to establish a leading position in the closely-associated fields of fuel processing and hydrogen generation.
(Right: 1kW PEM fuel cell stack produced by Advanced Power Sources Ltd.)
Funding for both these acquisitions was made through private rounds of financing. The acquisition of US-based Element One Enterprises in May 2003 (now part of the team of the Long Beach operation) delivered a team of experts built up over fifteen years, significantly strengthening the company’s energy solutions proposition.
This team, specialising in fuel processing, hydrogen generation and hydrogen refuelling technology, is one of North America’s most respected groups of experts in this field.
In April 2004, Intelligent Energy purchased MesoFuel Inc, a New Mexico company with strong links with the US defence community, now incorporated into the Long Beach office.
MesoFuel was a specialist in the development of small-scale devices for the conversion of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons into pure hydrogen for storage and for use in PEM and other fuel cells.
In addition to its head quarters in Loughborough and office in London and its operation in the US, Intelligent Energy has representation in Japan and in emerging markets.
