Established in 1956, and now with more than 4,000 staff, students and researchers and an annual budget of more than 360 million Euros, Jülich is one of the largest research institutions in Europe. Jülich has been carrying out R&D in solid oxide fuel cell systems since the mid 1990s, including a strong focus on high-powered anode-supported cells. Jülich has developed several stack designs and in 2004 constructed and tested a 10kW stack. Jülich has also developed significant expertise in complete systems and in developing novel materials, for example high-temperature, low cost ferritic steel used by a number of developers.

Under the framework agreement, the partners will conduct agreed research projects tailored to match the partners’ expertise and market needs. Areas of research are likely to include materials development, and accelerated lifetime testing and modelling. 

The annual student prize will acknowledge and reward outstanding student work in a field relating to fuel cell development. The prize will be open to students at all German universities and will include a cash component and a work experience internship at Ceramic Fuel Cells in Melbourne, Australia. 

The collaboration was announced at the Hannover Fair, one of the largest industrial and technology fairs in the world. 

At the Fair, CFCL also launched ‘GennexTM’, its fuel cell module comprising a metal-ceramic fuel cell stack plus balance of plant. GennexTM is a 1kW fuel cell module which is designed for integration inside m-CHP units and other appliances. 

This year's Fair includes a special World Energy Dialogue, with a focus on Energy Efficiency. 

More details about the Fair are available at http://www.hannovermesse.de/ More details about the Jülich Research Institute are available at http://www.fz-juelich.de