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PERMISSION is being sought to install a plant to manufacture fuel cells at the former Brinnel Factory building at Station Road West, in Ash Vale.

AFC Energy wants to install seven large air-handling units, 11 condenser units, three extractors fans for ‘fume cupboards’ and two back-up generators at the half-hectare site.

If granted permission by Guildford Borough Council, the Dunsfold-based company would use the building to develop low-cost alkaline fuel cells, which are devices that convert oxygen and hydrogen into electrical energy and heat.

AFC Energy wants permission to run the plant 24 hours a day, seven days a week, emitting a significant amount of noise.

Once operational, the factory, which sits on the edge of the Cypress Grove residential neighbourhood, would run at 10 decibels (dB) above background noise at night.

However, with the back-up generators running in addition, the plant would cause noise levels to be 4dB above background noise during the daytime and 17dB above background noise at night.

According to a noise assessment conducted by Acoustic Associates Sussex, the operation of the plant with back-up generators running at night would push the noise situation into a ‘complaints likely’ category.

AFC Energy, however, say the use of back-up generators would only be used on an emergency basis during power outages.

The company has also claimed the noise from the back-up generators would be mitigated by moving them to the far south-west corner of the car park and confining them behind an ‘acoustic fence’ more than 3m high.

The proposed plant would provide work for 50 full-time employees with a reduction of parking from 59 to 36.

Alkaline fuel cells are ‘zero emission’ devices and rely only on a supply of hydrogen and oxygen from the air.

The units’ only by-products are demilitarised water and heat.

As part of its application, AFC Energy said: “The design of the alterations is in keeping with the industrial character of the building.

“The plant and equipment is largely located to the south of the building, and due to the concerns over impact on amenity the plant is to be screened by acoustic fencing.”

Neighbours have until next Wednesday (July 16) to make comments to the council about the application.