Northrhine-Westfalia Minister for transportation,
energy and spatial planning, Dr. Axel Horstmann
and Joachim Berg, Head of R&D Fuel Cells,
Vaillant, Remscheid, discussing the latest domestic
Fuel Cell generation.
Bill Ernst, Vice President, Chief Scientist (left),
and Kai Klinder, Head of Marketing and Sales Fuel
Cell, Vaillant, and Bill Ernst, Vice President,
Chief Scientist present the 5th generation of
Fuel Cell Heating Appliances. Currently 42 EURO-
Systems are installed in Germany, Austria and
France.
At their joint booth, Vaillant and Plug Power
present NG and H2 fuelled stationary Fuel Cells.
Company's Interests:
The VAILLANT HEPWORTH Group is the most international
heating technology company in Europe, and offers
a wide product range for generating domestic heating
and hot water. The emphasis clearly lies on the
energy source gas: for wall-hung heating appliances
the VH Group is the number One Europe, with sales
of 1.2 mill. appliances. In 2003 the VH-Group
achieved a turnover of 1.755 bill. Euro, 5% more
than in the previous year. A future market is
seen in fuel cells for domestic co-generation
(Micro CHP).
Achievements in 2003:
In 2003 the joint teams of Plug Power and Vaillant
have installed 18 Fuel Cell Heating Appliances
(FCHA) of the second field generation EURO1. These
cogeneration units reach 4.4 kWel net output and
provide energy for hot water production and room
heating. The appliances are installed in multiple
family houses, small business applications like
micro-breweries, hotels, workshops and swimming
halls. The test results show a clear progress
compared to the first field generation. Electrical
efficiency could be increased and the overall
reliability was improved. Now the extended field
test expertise will lead to even more advanced
systems EURO2, which will be installed between
November 2003 and April 2004.
News at HANNOVER FAIR 2004:
Together with Plug Power, Vaillant presents the
latest generation of a domestic FCHA, type EURO2,
designed for European multi-family homes and small
business applications. Focusing on the question
of how fuel-cell heating appliances - networked
as a virtual power plant can be run, more than
30 Vaillant FCHA have been installed in several
European countries and linked with each other
via a control centre.
Beside the EURO2 Plug Power and Vaillant will
present the new GenCore system, a compact H2-fed
PEM system for back-up power applications.
