Vaillant cooperates with Webasto
- Heating technology manufacturer cooperates with automotive supplier
- Fuel cells for one-family houses and vehicles
- Power and heat from natural gas
- Bundling of competencies for the future
Remscheid/Munich, 15 February 2006
Vaillant Group, European heating technology manufacturer, and Webasto AG, international automotive component supplier, will in future work closely together in the development of fuel cells. The two companies have signed a cooperation agreement providing for the joint further development of fuel cells for motor vehicle and stationary applications.
Webasto has worked intensively on Auxiliary Power Units (APU) for on-board electricity supply for motor vehicles since 2002. Electrical power is generated with the aid of a high-temperature fuel cell from the petrol or diesel fuel that a vehicle's engine also uses. Having had decades of experience with fossil burners for auxiliary heating, the company brings thorough know-how to the cooperation.
Besides the mobile deployment of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) developed by Webasto, a second interesting market has now opened up for this technology. The same modules can – run with natural gas – also be used in future in a stationary application for home energy supply.
Vaillant has since 1998 worked on the development of fuel cell heating appliances for blocks of flats and small businesses, and already has extensive practical experience with prototypes in European field tests. Due to the cooperation with Webasto, the company will expand its development activities in fuel cell heating appliances to one-family houses.
"By bundling the competencies of Webasto and Vaillant we can further strengthen our development of fuel cell heating appliances and thus set an important signal for the power-heat cogeneration of the future," said Vaillant Group Managing Director Dr Michel Brosset. The current development work for blocks of flats and small businesses will be continued in parallel.
"In that we are bringing together the know-how and power of innovation of the two companies, substantial synergies in the heating technology and automotive sectors will be used for the first time. This is an important step for this promising technology of the future," said Franz-Josef Kortüm, Chairman of Webasto AG.
Within the framework of the cooperation, Webasto will be responsible for the development of the thermally insulated core module, including SOFCs, exhaust reheater and reformer. The reformer converts natural gas into the hydrogen-rich gas need for the function of the fuel cell.
The task of Vaillant is to develop this core module and other system components into a fuel cell heating appliance and integrate it intelligently and efficiently in the heating system of a detached house. In view of the challenges of climate protection and rising energy prices, the market for decentral installations with combined heat and power (microCHP) will be strengthened further.
In both automotive and home energy supply applications, fuel cells are regarded as a very promising and environment-friendly technology of the future.
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
www.vaillant-group.com
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.
