sbz interview andreas ballhausen

SBZ interview Andreas Ballhausen

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19/02/2014 - SBZ EDITION 05-2014
For fuel cells, PV-experience is an advantage - SBZ

SCC: In recent years, it was with constant regularity: the fuel cell heater comes in two or three, maybe even until five years. As a journalist and possible future buyer of such a device feels more tricked by this announcement policy. Is there now more concrete information on the introduction of serial devices?

Ballhausen: There will be no defined starting point for the fuel cell heating. Yet I see very positive signs. The number of active developers and members of the Initiative for Fuel (IBZ) has increased over recent years. Especially with Bosch, Viessmann and Elcore we were able to gain important driving forces. And the first manufacturers have already begun with the launch, such as Ceramic Fuel Cells (CFC) with the BlueGen device that you can buy already on the Internet. Viessmann has announced at the ISH 2013, introducing his developed in collaboration with Panasonic fuel cell heating unit in 2014 into the market. Also Baxi and Elcore want to bring their devices to market in 2014. In addition, Vaillant and Bosch, Viessmann also consistent with the Hexis device in the wings. Again: There is no switch is actuated by announcing with certainty: Now the launch begins. Rather, it must be by a gradual market launch.

SCC: What conditions must be met for the criterion "market"?

Ballhausen: There are two criteria for the launch: the technical and the commercial. The technical criteria it is so that manufacturers have achieved different levels of maturity of their products. Within the Callux project currently around 310 systems are installed. In addition, field tests, the manufacturer outside the Callux project, so that we come to Germany to about 500 installed up to 600 fuel cell heating appliances. The most important criterion for the launch I see in the availability of functioning equipment to potential customers.

The second criterion is the qualification of craft enterprises for installation and maintenance of these devices. Here, we build on the installation experience with 600 plants. From the experiences of Callux project together with some three million hours of operation we also know the typical problems of fuel cell heating appliances. The manufacturer Ceramic Fuel Cells comes with its BlueGen devices to further two and a half million hours of operation, so that we reach a total of around five million hours of operation in Germany. So we know exactly what works well and where we need to improve. Of course there are technical development needs, but at the level of a very high degree of ripeness.

SCC: What are the typical weak points?

Ballhausen: The focus of further research are to improve the robustness, above all, the fuel cell stack, a longer life and lower cost. These three core objectives to all manufacturers of fuel cell heating.

SCC: If the heating engineers craft motivated in times of boom and skills shortages at all, introduce advanced technology such as the fuel cell heating in the market? Innovation experience has shown towards the end consumer very in need of explanation and thus usually very time-consuming for the installer. Also, employees need to be trained, because without training, they will hardly be able to install a device.

Ballhausen: For the technically experienced craftsmen heating the fuel cell heating is a lucrative business because of the higher price he deserves more than a condensing boiler or a heat pump. Of course, we see the launch as a Herculean task, because certainly not all businesses can demonstrate the necessary qualifications. From the experience at CFC we know that heating specialist companies are best positioned with a strong career in photovoltaics for the market introduction of fuel cell heating. This fits well with their product portfolio.

SCC: What kind of support specialist companies in the launch expected?

Ballhausen: All manufacturers offer an intensive training course and guide the installers with the first installation and commissioning. This all takes place in steps. Also as part of the Callux project there is a program to support the craft sector in the launch of fuel cell heating. In addition, co-operation can be selected from the IBZ educational institutions, initiated and offered expert speakers for vocational facilities.

SCC: At the latest when the potential of the so-called early adopters - ie the fuel cell Freaks - is reached, the question begins by price. Do you already have a pricing of fuel cell heating appliances?

Ballhausen: Here you have to clearly say: fuel cell heaters are instructed in the coming years to promote. All technological leaps, whether in condensing heater, heat pump, solar thermal or photovoltaic system, are or were to establish only one promotion in the market. At the moment there for fuel cell heating assistance under Bafa CHP program, which is about 1500 euros per kW electric. As we enter the Fuel Cell Initiative with a focus on CO for an expanded program 2 emissions. It is about 50% compared to conventional power generation. This technology-introduction program should run this program as quickly as possible. We expect that the fuel cell by 2020 without additional funding can compete in the market. The promotion should be relatively high at the beginning and then be withdrawn, depending on the scale of unit costs. With the appropriate ministries we are already talking.

SCC: Can you still call it a rule of thumb for 1kW electrical power?

Ballhausen: The device concepts are too different to it to give a definite price. Be 1.5 kW, CFC provides el -device with 60% electrical efficiency of 25 000 € - installed. Otherwise I know of no binding prices. The target cost of a fuel cell heating system are - depending on the type of device - 5000-15000 euros per kW el . The price depends on whether a backup heater and / or memory are included with the price. Also the height of the electrical efficiency goes to the kW price from. Safe in the pricing of the fuel cell heating appliances are also the price development of electricity and gas, but also the prices of other innovative heating systems, such as the different types of heat pumps, play a role. Put it this way: the customer and the manufacturer must have fun with this technology.

SCC: Could it also be that manufacturers from the Far East be instrumental in shaping the prices?

Ballhausen: The Japanese manufacturer with around 40,000 installed fuel cell heating appliances of course have much more experience than the Europeans. The production processes for such high quantities lead to economies of scale, be Japanese units priced more interesting. However, the built according to Japanese standards equipment must be adapted to the European standards and regulations. Therefore, offer collaborations with European manufacturers. In the marketplace by Far Eastern companies in Europe, one must also take into account that traditionally it is a very close customer relationship between the heating engineers and the classic European manufacturers of heating equipment that can not be easily cracked by importers. CFC has therefore moved its production and thus the value from Australia to Germany, because Germany is in relation to the climate protection targets the most important market in Europe.

SCC: photovoltaic systems are becoming cheaper. Does the fuel cell heating competition by solar power fear?

Ballhausen: The fuel cell heater I see more often found in the base load, PV modules provide power only with appropriate sunlight. I could imagine systems with fuel cells to cover the base load and the PV system to cover the medium and peak load of a building, for example, one with air conditioning.

SCC: Are there any benchmarks for the maintenance and repair of fuel cell heating?

Ballhausen: I'm assuming that the manufacturer - similar to CHP - offer full maintenance contracts, in which the maintenance, repair and replacement of fuel cell stacks is included. This is particularly useful in the initial phase, because only then the risk for the customer is calculable.

SCC: Our new buildings today have a very high standard of insulation and a high energy efficiency in buildings. Is it worth it under these circumstances, install a micro-CHP unit with a fuel cell?

Ballhausen: Just then go for a fuel cell heating because electricity generation using fuel cells is a technology with the highest power to heat ratio. And the better a building is insulated, the more it is a device with high power to heat ratio is worth it. The waste heat from these devices can be, for example, year-round use for DHW heating. This leads to high annual operating hours and thus to a high efficiency. Due to the variety of the offered future fuel cell heating appliances every customer will find the best for his household furniture. Excess electricity can indeed be fed into the grid.

SCC: The arbitrariness of power feeds into the public grid might be limits in the future. This could harm the economic viability of such devices. What is your assessment?

Ballhausen: The issue of electricity supply and capacity markets is discussed in depth during the Callux partner. The plan is a standardized data interface - the so-called Callux box - which allows to integrate fuel cell heating appliances in a virtual power plant or in the business model of a service provider. The customer must benefit from his device is used for load transfer control naturally through a special payment. I can imagine that in regions with high PV power supply externally controlled fuel cell heating appliances can help to reinforce the network locally. For network operators, such devices are quite interesting. I think it is realistic that offer appropriate service providers in the future fuel cell heating appliances in the contracting model for grid stabilization.

SCC: Are fuel cell heaters also able abzufahren instantaneous load curves of a household or of a building, so that a supply surplus electricity is unnecessary?

Ballhausen: Most devices are able to modulate. This suggests that one can track the load. However, for economic reasons, I advocate for a feed excess electricity into the grid, at least as long as that is possible. Due to the power supply, the operator receives a contribution from the current 5 to 6 cents / kWh. Why should he give up this post? Each operator will try to get out of his system the economic optimum. We anticipate fuel cell heating appliances with a wide range that covers many customer needs. That's the advantage over photovoltaic systems that can be used to generate electricity and feed their electricity volatile.

SCC: With effort has established itself in recent years a small market for motor-driven micro-CHP systems. If this market is driven back by the fuel cell heating appliances?

Ballhausen: That will be decided by the customer. As part of the Callux project, the users expressed very favorably on the status and perspective of fuel cell heating appliances, including in the energy efficiency and CO 2 As for savings. The starting position of the fuel cell heating I therefore see in marketing terms significantly more favorable than those of micro-CHP units with combustion or Stirling engine.

SCC: Thank you for the interview.


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