Sulzer SOFC-Field test

In the spring of 2001, EnBW launched a campaign to establish fuel cell technology as a household energy supply and to research its operating characteristics and user-friendliness in practice. About 6,000 private households applied as "pioneers" of the campaign and put this environmentally-friendly technology to the test as an electricity and heat supply for their houses. One of the crucial factors for the applicants was the ecological benefit of the fuel cell without having to cut back on comfort. Now first experiences are available of this new technology.

The first pre-series fuel cell system was installed in December 2001. By the beginning of 2004, there were already 15 units, and by 2006, about 55 customers will use this technology. The further developed successor of the SOFC pre-series fuel cell system, which is close to series production, will be delivered by Sulzer Hexis in 2005 before actual series production is expected to start in 2007/2008.