Hanover, 21st April 2008. "It is now certain that the fuel cell heating unit will soon be taking up its rightful place among providers of decentralised, environmentally friendly energy. Field tests have already proven that we can reach a thirty to fifty per cent reduction in CO2 emissions with fuel cells. We are ready and willing to take on the responsibility for meeting the challenges concerning efficiency and climate improvement.” At the press conference at the Hanover Trade Fair's collective "Hydrogen and Fuel Cells" stand, Guido Gummert, managing director of BAXI INNOTECH, used these words to explain the current state of his fuel cell heating unit for single family homes, as well as its future significance for the European market. He also let it be known that the BAXI GROUP is further advancing this innovative technology. His Hamburg-based company is the development operation for the international BAXI GROUP, the third largest heating equipment manufacturer in Europe.
For BAXI INNOTECH - as a participant in a lighthouse project deploying stationary fuel cells in a micro combined heat and power system for localised home energy supply - the subsidies of the German National Innovation Programme will be coming at exactly the right time. As Guido Gummert says, "technically we are ready, and we really can achieve a total efficiency level of over eighty per cent. It is also already possible to use natural biomass gas as a renewable source of energy for the emission-free production of energy and heat. We are approaching the final stages of the race - as we near the home stretch, where the last set of tests will be putting our fuel cell units through their paces to prove their robustness and marketability.”
For Mr Gummert, the BAXI INNOTECH Director, beginning the realisation of the German National Innovation Programme initiative is, "also a benefit in terms of time, as climate change is not going to wait for us”. He is convinced that the targeted subsidy programme will be accelerating the technical maturity process right through to series production. In two to three years a small series could well be ready. This will help to promote an approach that cares for the environment and saves on energy costs among our partners in the market and in the supply industry.
Mr Gummert also made the point that currently there is a noticeable insecurity among consumers when they consider any refurbishment or new-build projects. "Insufficient knowledge of the various technologies available means that no-one knows precisely how they should invest their funds. And in fact the best option depends on the size of the energy requirement.” And as far as the single family house is concerned, however, the specialists in Hanover were all in agreement that the fuel cell heating unit will achieve a top ranking within the next few years.
Concerning the wisdom behind investment in this emission-reducing technology, Martyn Coffey, the new CEO of the BAXI Group, had this to say: "There will also be a significant upward movement in energy prices in the future. And, for that reason alone, a decentralised energy supply that generates heat and electricity on site will lead to a better energy balance.”
The heating installation industry should also be ready. According to Mr Gummert, the necessity to exchange the screwdriver for the laptop is a great opportunity for the specialist trade, and "not just to ensure that people hold on to their jobs." It is significantly more important to corner the market and develop it in the long term, and set about the training and further development of the specialist trade technicians in good time. He went on to say that "all this goes hand in hand with a fundamental transformation in energy management in our living and working areas - away from the traditional boiler towards a complete system that generates heat and energy from a single source.”
Please notice:
Our current images from the Hanover Fair will be available at the BAXI INNOTECH press-lounge on Monday, 21st April, at about 3.00 pm. Have a look at: www.baxi-innotech.de/pressreleases
press contact:
IMA Institut GmbH
Claudia Palozzo
Alstertor 1, D- 20095 Hamburg
Tel: +49 (0) 40 30 96 96 -0
Fax: +49 (0) 40 30 96 96 -66
Email: c.palozzo@ima-gination.de
www.ima-gination.de
BAXI INNOTECH GmbH
The company was founded in 1999 under the name of european fuel cell gmbh (efc). Since August 2002 the company has been part of the British BAXI Group. The stated goal of the company is the development of combined heat and power (CHP) technologies, concentrating particularly on the effective deployment of fuel cell heating units for single family houses, as a product for the European market. Since March 2007 european fuel cell has been operating as BAXI INNOTECH with greater responsibilities within the Group.
www.baxi-innotech.de
