30th November 2012Its own power from the fuel cellBy Florian...

30th November 2012

Its own power from the fuel cell
By Florian Schmitz

The public utility company and the company Ceramic Fuel Cells is now selling equipment that win with fuel cell energy.


Dirk Hunke (SWN), Andreas Ballhausen (CFC) and Stephan Lommetz (SWN, from left). BlueGen with, the fuel cell generator of the company Ceramic Fuel Cells Georg Salzburg


Neuss. Stadtwerke Neuss (SWN) break new ground. "The days when the city works of classical utilities were, are over. It is increased by the self-production of energy. The statutory price increases do not cheaper electricity. That's why we want to help our customers save energy or use it more efficiently, "says CEO Stephan Lommetz.

In 15 years, up to 11 000 euros of savings

To help a partnership with the company Ceramic Fuel Cells (CFC), which is based in Heinberg. The company produces generators that are powered by fuel cells. The so-called Blue Gene are little more than a meter high, a good 50 inches wide and deep, and convert gas into electricity and heat. The idea of ??the partner SWN and CFC: Stadtwerke buy the units and rent them to customers.

The company takes care of not only the construction but also the maintenance. To get started, there is an offer for the first ten customers. For a monthly fee of 200 euros BlueGen is provided and connected. Stadtwerke provide a maintenance guarantee for the full contract period of 15 years.

With a power consumption of 20 000 kWh per year, according to John Schulz, SWN-Head of Industry and business sales, around 11 000 euros in savings. The fuel cell generators are therefore currently expect even more for commercial customers or those who consume a lot of electricity. Commissioning is particularly interesting due to the high efficiency of around 60 percent.

"This machine is a big hit in the energy industry."

Dirk Hunke, SWN

Besides the financial aspect, the environment is protected. Although natural gas or biogas is used for electricity production, but according to Andreas Ballhausen of CFC produced about 50 percent less carbon dioxide than conventional energy.

Dirk Hunke, head of energy services SWN sees in the fuel cells the future of decentralized energy supply: "This machine is a big hit in the energy industry." Hunke would prefer to immediately sell a million of them - "then we have the production of a nuclear power plant ' "out, he says.

Cheers
SynQuasi