the private power plant in the basement

Source: http://ow.ly/xHST1 from German magazine called "Wirtschafts Woche" - 28/05/2014

The private power plant in the basement (translated by Google)

by Dieter Dürand

With the anger over the rising price of electricity is growing in many the desire to become independent of energy suppliers. Now, with the fuel cell, a new technology ready for the market. What the eight best systems can - and what they cost.

Hans-Gerd Funke can not imagine otherwise: For more than 18 months, he draws power for the 200-square-meter house, where he lives with his wife, three children and a dog, almost entirely of a fuel cell tester. It is in the basement of his house, is no bigger than a dishwasher - and completely silent.

About 24 kilowatt hours of the fuel cell every day. Unlike solar panels on the roof of the electrons flow even after sunset. The waste heat generated in the production of electricity is used to heat shower water or to heat the rooms. Funke is satisfied: "So far, the system is very reliable."

The Oldenburg is a participant in a nationwide large-scale project called Callux. To check the manufacturer Vaillant Viessmann since 2008, nearly 400 units in daily operation on the heart and kidneys.

It works like this: The devices obtained from natural gas or biogas hydrogen. It is converted in the fuel cell to heat and electricity. In cars or in submarines in the future technology has long since proven their suitability. In Japan it has already done in more than 40,000 private households in service.

Jump to Germany

Now the market is to come in Germany in the aisles. According to Wolfram Münch, head of the research department at the energy company EnBW Baden-Württemberg and spokesman for the Callux initiative, the systems are ready for home use. In this assessment, it is based on a survey of test clients: 98 percent claimed to be satisfied with the equipment.

This makes the manufacturers obviously courage. After the pioneers Ceramic Fuel Cells (CFC) and Hexis this year also Elcore and Viessmann venture into the market. The last provider Vaillant wants to enter in 2017 is currently expected.

Biggest hurdle likely the high prices for the fuel cell to be. The BlueGen unit of CFC for example, costs around 28,000 euros, including installation. Nevertheless, it is said to have CFC CEO Frank Obernitz According amortized after about seven years through energy savings.

This only works if an investment grant of up to EUR 13,000 shall be deducted from a funding program. Thus, for example, supports the North Rhine-Westphalian government to market. Otherwise, it will take much longer - according to Energy Agency NRW 20 years or more.

However, the CFC manager swear stone and bone, to reduce the selling price massively with growing numbers. European sales chief Andreas Ballhausen is certain. "Starting in 2020, the fuel cell without additional funding can compete in the market" already is they can produce a kilowatt hour for about twelve cents, the company states. That's about 14 cents below what current customers are currently paying nationwide average for electrical energy to their provider.

The entry-level model for one-and two-family houses, the Viessmann sells under the name Vitovalor 300-P together with the Japanese electronics giant Panasonic costs, including installation even 30000-35000 euro. Nevertheless, the partners are confident that we can 2020 to settle a five-digit number to the basement power plants in Europe. More specifically, the company does not want to specify.

Viessmann to the device a small program ready to control their device and remotely via the user of smartphones or tablet PCs. In addition, they can always see how much electricity and heat it just generated.

Must be noted: Those who opt for the innovative technology, the environment does at least something good. Compared with a conventional gas heating and the electricity from the power leaves the fuel cell with its double fuel efficiency at the same energy yield about two-thirds less CO2 emissions. At current prices, the acquisition system expects, however, only in a reasonable period of time if the buyer managed to get a considerable government funding.

Another downside: The buyer remains dependent on natural gas, a fossil fuel - unless he rises to biogas to.