Will the mCHP units be able to reduce carbon emissions in Great Britain, as expected?
Ceramic Fuel Cells Europe, a subsidiary of Ceramic Fuel Cells (CFCL), and E.ON have extended their agreement to further develop and deploy fuel cell micro combined heat and power units in the UK.
Under the terms of the new agreement, E.ON and CFCL will collaborate on a joint development project to commercialize micro combined heat and power (mCHP) units designed for the British market, based on CFCL’s Gennex fuel cell module.
According to the company, the commercialization project is currently scheduled to run from 2009 to 2012 in a number of stages subject to performance criteria, with the UK market launch expected to follow thereafter.
Subject to CFCL’s achievement of agreed price and performance targets, E.ON and CFCL have agreed a future order profile, which would secure E.ON’s distribution rights for CFCL micro CHP units within the UK. A minimum order of 100,000 units over six years from 2012 would be required for E.ON to continue to retain exclusivity.
Charles Bradshaw-Smith, head of innovation at E.ON, said: The agreement with CFCL reflects two years’ work to achieve a unit with a technical performance that has met our targets. We are now pleased to commit funding and resources, subject to the attainment of agreed milestones, to roll out a commercial unit, building on CFCL’s technology.