regions paving the way for the future of the energy transition · • hessen thus concentrates on...

Hessisches Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie,

Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz

Brussels, 11 October 2017

„Regions paving the way for the future of the energy

transition “

Klaus Gütling

Fuel Cell micro-Cogeneration: Generating Sustainable Heat and Power for your Home

Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and

Regional Development, State of Hesse


Regional Development

• 21.114,94 km²

• 6.176.172 Inhabitants

• Unemployment rate: 5 %

• 40K € GDP per Capita

• Main branches:

Banking, Logistics, IT, Trade,

Chemical industry,

Automotive industry,

Machine Building Industry

Departement of commerce, energy, traffic und land developement

Why the „Energiewende“ is

needed

➢Climate change

➢Availability of resources

➢Technological safety

➢Direct environmental effects

3

Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Regional Development

(Copyright: Dr. Andreas Meissauer, 2012)

Departement of commerce, energy, traffic und land developement

In 2011, the hessian government invited the relevant public stakeholders

to design the „Energiewende“ on state level.

Four central goals identified:

100 % of energy consumption covered by renewable energy sources

until 2050 (electrical power and heat)

„Significant“ reduction of the energy consumption by increasing

efficiency of utilization

Improving and expanding the infrastructure of energy production,

transport, and distribution „as decentralised as possible and as centralised

as necessary””

Improving the social acceptance for the necessary measures

Energy Summit of the Hessian government

4

Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Regional Development

Facade Insulation - in many cases limited!



Motivation for Support of fuel cells in Hessen

• The further growth in Wind and solar energy use together with

efficieny gains will more an more realise a „renewable energy world“

• The use of Biomass is limited.

• It makes no sense using electrical heat pumps to heat badly

insulated houses as long as the share of renewable electricity ist

below 100 percent.

• High efficent Co-generation of Heat an Power with natural gas is

thus in many cases an efficient option for CO2-reduction.

• Fuel cell technology has the potential to become cost-efficient also

in the small scale.

• Fuel cell technology has the potential to become an important

component of a future „renewable energy world“.





Co-Funding of Micro Fuel Cells in 2014/2015

• In 2014/2015 the Hessian government

supported the installation of small-scale

fuel cells new on the market with up to

17.500 € each.

• 44 units were installed in Hessen.

• At that time only two appliances were

on the market:

- Viessmann Vitovalor 300-P

- Ceramic Fuel Cells BlueGEN

• Mainly installed in private houses with

quite high demand of heat and

electricity (e.g. for swimming pool).

• Right now only positive feedback of

users on reliability.

National Co-Funding of Micro Fuel Cells (KfW-Bank)



• Program started in 2016

• For appliances uo to 5 kW

• Conditions improved in 2017 (now

also available for companies)

• High grants (up to 40%)

• 1100 applications until 7/2017

Electrical Power Grant

Hessian Support Program for micro fuel cells

• The national Co-funding program of the KfW makes additional public

fundig unnecessary

• Hessen thus concentrates on consultation, training and information

dissemination since 2016:

– 4 information events in different regions

– Targeting at multipliers: heating installers, plumbers, Cheamber of Crafts,

architechtures, engineering offices, energy suppliers,…

– More than 200 participants

– Since end of 2016: Telefone Hotline on fuel cell technology and financial

support.

– Plans: intensify an broaden the activities (e.g. radio spots, individual

consultation)



Hydrogen- and Fuel Cell Initiative Hessen

(H2BZ-Initiative Hessen)



• Coordinates the Hessian Support

Program for micro fuel cells.

• Central Contact Point on Hydrogen and

Fuel Cells in Hessen

• Ideas for new projects

• Technology transfer (Workshops,

Conferences,…)

• Supported by the Hessian Government

Lessons learnt (I)

• Micro fuel cells offer high efficiency gains also for very low power

output (< 5 kW and even < 1 kW).

• Until now they proved to be reliable.

• Prices have fallen, but still they cannot be operated profitably

without public co-funding.

• Especially households with average consumption of heat and

electricity have little financial motivation to operate these aplliances,

even with public co-funding.



Lessons learnt (II)

• Stakeholders (architects, heating installers,…) are vastly lacking

information about this new technology. If this problem ist not

adressed, they will not advise their customers to install a fuel cell.

• Efforts on bureaucracy related to the operation of a fuel cell are very

high in Germany. This could enhance new services offered to house

owners (e.g. all-iclusive-packages: installation, operation and

maintainence by service provider).



Thank you for your attention!

Questions and comments welcome:

[email protected]



regions paving the way for the future of the energy transition · • hessen thus concentrates on...

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