Angela Merkel Looks into Vaillant / Webasto Fuel Cell Project

• Future of energy supply is on the german Federal government’s agenda
• Heating technology manufacturer cooperates with automobile industry supplier
• Fuel cells for single-family homes and cars
• Bundling of competencies for the future

Hanover Trade Fair, 24 April 2006

Vaillant Group Managing Director Dr Michel Brosset and Dr Detlef May, Head of Corporate Communications of Webasto AG, today briefed German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel on the current status of their joint project for developing fuel cell technology. She was accompanied by a major delegation including, among others, Federal Minister of Science Dr Annette Schavan, and Christian Wulff, Prime Minister of the State of Lower Saxony. The East-West high-tech cooperation between the two medium-sized companies results in unique synergies for using fuel cells that are identical in design.

Vaillant Group, a leading European manufacturer of heating technology, and Webasto AG, an international supplier to the automotive industry, are cooperating closely on development of high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) modules for mobile use in heavy goods vehicles and stationary use in single-family houses. This opens up entirely new dimensions for safe and environmentally-friendly power supply.

For some years now, Webasto has been studying onboard power supplies for vehicles, so-called auxiliary power units (APUs). With the aid of high-temperature fuel cells, electrical power is derived from liquid fuels. Against the background of decades of experience with auxiliary heating systems and stationary heating, the company is contributing corresponding know-how. In addition to mobile applications, a second market has now opened up for the SOFC modules developed by Webasto. When run on natural gas or heating oil, the same modules constitute an interesting technology that in future could also be used in stationary applications for home power supply.

Vaillant has been working on developing fuel cell heating appliances since 1998 and has extensive practical experience in testing prototypes in European field tests. The company is using the cooperation with Webasto to expand its development activities in the field of fuel cell heating appliances to include single-family dwellings. Together with its US development partner Plug Power, Vaillant is also working on a PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell heating appliance for multi-family dwellings and small commercial enterprises.

"With the bundling of Webasto's and Vaillant's competencies, we are intensifying our development of fuel cell heating appliances and thus are sending an important signal for the power-heat cogeneration of the future," says Michel Brosset. The ongoing development for multi-family dwellings and small commercial enterprises will be continued in parallel. "By wedding the know-how and innovative power of both companies, we are taking a big step forward for this promising technology," says Detlef May of Webasto. Under the cooperation agreement, Webasto is responsible for development of the thermally insulated core module including SOFC, afterburner and reformer. The reformer converts natural gas into the hydrogen-rich gas needed for the fuel cell to function. Vaillant's task consists of developing the core module and additional system components into a fuel cell heating unit and integrating it intelligently and efficiently in the heating system of a single-family dwelling.

Both companies used the opportunity of Dr Merkel's visit to express their thanks to politicians who aim to continue supporting further development with extensive financial support. The significance of the project is both technical and ecological in nature. Fuel cell technology is opening up new global market potential that already exists today and for which there is not yet a technical solution. In mobile applications, for example, engines would no longer have to idle to supply vehicles with electrical power and air-conditioning.

In stationary use, this trailblazing technology will lead to a lasting increase in energy efficiency through decentralized, non-polluting power and heat supply in buildings. It will revolutionise heating technology.


Contact
Stefan Jakubik
Press Officer
Vaillant Group
42850 Remscheid
Germany
Phone: +49 2191 - 18 3731
Fax: +49 2191 - 18 2895
Mobile: +49 171 - 9763231
stefan.jakubik@vaillant.de

Dr Detlef May
Head of Corporate Communications
Webasto AG
Kraillinger Str. 5
82131 Stockdorf
Germany
Phone: +49 89 - 85794 670
Fax: +49 89 - 85794 701
dmay@webasto.de
www.webasto.de

Vaillant Group is presenting its development activities in power-heat cogeneration with fuel cells at the Hanover Industrial Fair from 24th April until 28th April 2006 at the Group exhibit Hydrogen + Fuel Cells, Hall 13, F76.