The company’s cooperative partners – manufacturers Baxi Innotech, CFCL, Hexis, Vaillant and Viessmann – presented their fuel cell devices in Oldenburg. The presentation triggered a detailed exchange of information among Tiefensee, the manufacturers and EWE.

The minister was visibly impressed by the potential of the stationary application. "I expect stationary fuel cells to play a highly significant role in the efficient and environmentally compatible provision of heat and electricity to our buildings for a long time to come," stated Tiefensee. EWE and the manufacturers made great strides toward a market launch of this technology through their field tests.

EWE is already one of the leaders in the testing of fuel cells and intends to further intensify this commitment. As Dr. Werner Brinker, CEO of EWE AG, underlined, "Intelligent solutions are the key to the energy supply of the future. We are delighted to have the federal government support us in this project." It is now only a matter of time until fuel cells become established in the market.

Fuel cell technology is undisputedly regarded as the most efficient form of combined heat and power generation among experts. As part of the ten-year "National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology," government and industry are promoting the further development of this technology for mobile and stationary applications. Government and industry are each providing about 500 million euros in funding. The goal of the program is to make fuel cells marketable through joint demonstration projects known as "lighthouse" projects.

The scheduled lighthouse project in domestic energy supply is a joint project of EWE, Baxi Innotech, MVV, Vaillant and Viessmann. Other companies also have the option to participate.