Vaillant Group reinforces activities for combined heat and power systems

Remscheid/Amsterdam, 13 February 2008 – Vaillant Group is stepping up its activities for the development of technologies for energy efficient combined heat and power (CHP) systems. The company is joining the Dutch consortium led by Microgen Engine Corporation Holding B.V. of European heating appliance manufacturers, a Dutch investor group and developers of Stirling engines in England. The consortium was formed last year to push ahead the development of CHP products on the basis of the Stirling technology. “Our aim is to enhance the strong market and technology positions of the Vaillant Group in the combined heat and power sector,” said Vaillant Group managing director Ralf-Otto Limbach. Already today the heating and airconditioning specialist provides the gas-fuelled mini CHP system ecopower.

Widely positioned in heat and power cogeneration
Vaillant Group has worked for many years successfully on the development and marketing of heating appliances based on combined heat and power. This technology enables the simultaneous generation of heat and power. Within the framework of the consortium led by Microgen Engine Corporation, Vaillant Group is now also pursuing the development of a CHP system based on a Stirling motor. This technology is strongly promoted in the Netherlands in particular and is regarded as very promising for the market there. "We firmly believe in heat and power cogeneration and want to engage ourselves in it even more," said Limbach.

Another Vaillant Group project of the future is the fuel-cell heating appliance, which has been in development with partner companies for several years. Because of their high potential for efficiency, fuel-cells heating appliances are seen a future technology in the power-heat cogeneration sector.


Vaillant Group is an internationally active heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technology concern based in Remscheid, Germany. As one of the world's market and technology leaders, the company develops and produces tailor-made products, systems and services for domestic comfort. The product portfolio ranges from efficient heating appliances based on customary fuels to system solutions for using renewable energy sources. In financial year 2006, Vaillant Group, which has been family-owned since its founding in 1874, achieved with almost 10,100 employees sales revenue totalling about €2 billion.

Contact
Dr Jens Wichtermann
Head of Corporate Communications
Vaillant Group
D-42850 Remscheid
Phone: +49 2191 18-2754
Fax: +49 2191 18-2895
Mobile: +49 175 2951810
jens.wichtermann@vaillant.de
www.vaillant-group.com