"Being an innovative company, we also want to set standards in environmental protection. In this context, we integrate cutting-edge technologies, such as fuel cells, for example," explains Dr. Ekkehard Gericke, Chief Production Officer of Festo AG.

"Due to its high efficiency and extremely low level of pollutant emissions, the HotModule permits highly efficient and environment-friendly energy utilization. We are happy that Festo has joined us in our commitment to this promising technology for the future," says Dr. Michael Fübi, management spokesman of RWE Fuel Cells GmbH.

The HotModule is manufactured by MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, in which RWE Fuel Cells has held shares since 2003. The fuel cell has an electrical output of about 225 kW and a thermal output of about 180 kW. It can be used to supply industrial and commercial establishments with energy. The electrical efficiency is almost 50 % so that the HotModule clearly outperforms competing technologies of the same size.

Moreover, the fuel cell is particularly low-polluting: Compared with conventional internal combustion engines, the HotModule emits about 30 % less CO2. The fuel cell provides distributed energy supply precisely where it is needed. This avoids transmission losses. It also provides heat: Apart from electricity, the high-temperature fuel cell produces exhaust air at a temperature of 400 °C. At Festo, it is used to heat the production facilities and offices. Moreover, the exhaust air can be converted into cold energy by an adsorption refrigerating machine and be used for air conditioning.

The promising forward-looking energy scheme at Festo consists of a combination of fuel cell, air compressors with exhaust air utilization, engine block-central cogeneration plant as well as adsorption and compression-type refrigerating machine. "The flexible energy system enables us to respond in an optimum fashion to the fast changing requirements of production and energy markets," explains Bernd Bruy, Head of Facility Management Germany at Festo. In combination, the different technologies supply a production hall of 29,000 m2 with electricity, compressed air, heat and cold energy at the St. Ingbert site. Their mode of operation automatically aligns itself with the current energy requirements.

RWE Fuel Cells can draw on many years of experience with fuel cell technology. At St. Ingbert, the company supports the project from the planning, through the installation, right down to the commissioning of the HotModule. Following the successful commissioning, RWE Fuel Cells will provide operational support for the next two years. The company expects to collect above all valuable operating experience with the fuel cell from the project support. The plant in Saarland is integrated in an unprecedented way into an innovative energy scheme. At Krefeld, another HotModule is already used to supply a residential area with electricity and heat. Starting this summer, experience with the fuel cell will also be gathered in the municipal sewage treatment works at Ahlen.

Alongside the project partners, the Federal Ministry for Economics and Labor (investment program for the future ZIP), DaimlerChrysler AG, the Ministry of the Environment of Saarland, VSE AG and the St. Ingbert municipal utility support the project financially.

RWE Fuel Cells, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RWE AG in Essen, works on testing and application of products based on fuel cells as well as other small distributed energy plants such as micro-gas turbines and Stirling engines. RWE Fuel Cells focuses on stationary fuel cell applications.