ICL Attends Autoflame Energy Innovation Summit at the Institute of Directors

On Tuesday 10th June, Michelle Gower and Darren Sharpe (Energy Projects Manager) from ICL had the pleasure of attending the Autoflame Energy Innovation Summit, held at the prestigious Institute of Directors in Pall Mall, London.

The event opened with a warm welcome from Jordan Kemp, followed by an engaging presentation from Steve Kemp the Director of Autoflame, who took us through the company’s inspiring journey — from its founding in 1965, through key innovations like the Limpsfield burner in 1995, to today’s advanced combustion and control technologies.

A standout moment was the keynote address from Mike Rendall of AFC Energy, introducing the launch of Hy-5 — a world-first containerised hydrogen cracking module, capable of producing up to 500kg of clean hydrogen per day, with delivery from 2026. Offered under a “fuel as a service” (FaaS) model, Hy-5 promises on-site hydrogen for £10/kg — a game-changer in the hydrogen economy, with wide applications across transport, construction, EV charging, and industry.

Key Takeaways for ICL:

• Reduced Energy Use, Same Output: Autoflame’s smart burner and boiler systems help reduce gas consumption without sacrificing performance — directly supporting our decarbonisation targets.
• Carbon and Cost Savings: Reliable systems with fewer callouts, in-house training, and real-time data monitoring help reduce maintenance and utility costs.
• Hydrogen and Multi-Fuel Capability: Autoflame’s multi-fuel approach — including hydrogen and biofuels — aligns with ICL’s ambitions for cleaner energy sources.
• Tailored Solutions for Industry: From energy audits and risk assessments to project management plans and live performance monitoring, Autoflame delivers targeted support for industrial users.

We also heard about real-world success stories, including the Wembley Stadium project, where Autoflame’s intelligent burner systems helped achieve up to 52% fuel savings, allowing them to reduce operations from three boilers to two — while maintaining performance.

This event reinforced the critical role of energy efficiency, system innovation, and clean technologies in shaping a more sustainable future. ICL is committed to exploring these advancements and working with partners like Autoflame to help us meet our environmental goals while supporting operational performance.

A huge thank you to the Autoflame team — including speakers Billy Huggett, Jordan Kemp, and Duncan Cairnie — for hosting such a forward-thinking and practical event.