1.4MW plant in Germany will provide materials specialist FRIATEC's production facilities with low-carbon heat and power
Europe's first mega-watt scale fuel plant is now up and running in Mannheim, Germany, delivering virtually emission-free heat and electricity to power plastics specialist FRIATEC's industrial production line.
The 1.4MW power plant, the first of its kind in Europe, was officially opened earlier this week and is expected to cut FRIATEC's carbon emissions by around 3,000 tonnes every year over its 10-year lifespan.
A fuel cell works by converting chemical energy from a fuel into electricity, via a chemical reaction between hydrogen ions and an oxidising agent. Other than electricity, they emit only water and very small amounts of nitrogen dioxide.
Energy giant E.ON developed the plant in less than nine months, in collaboration with FuelCell Energy Solutions, the companies said.
In a statement E.ON said the two companies have now entered into a long-term energy partnership to continue developing fuel cell technology for customers in energy intensive sectors.
Karsten Wildberger, E.ON's chief markets officer for the energy sector, said fuel cells are a key technology for delivering clean energy. "The inauguration of this plant is a very special occasion for us, since such highly innovative, economical, and clean solutions are at the core of the new E.ON," he said in a statement.
E.ON is in the middle of a major reorganisation as it splits into two units: Uniper, which will take control of the company's fossil fuel assets, and a new-look E.ON focused on renewables.
In related news, earlier this week French company Alstom unveiled the world's first hydrogen-powered passenger train at this year's InnoTrans trade show in Berlin. The 'Coradia iLint' is designed to replace diesel trains on regional routes, and emits only steam and condensed water.
Alstom is selling the train to operators in a vehicle and maintenance package deal. In 2014 the trainmaker signed Letters of Intent with train operators in Germany for the use of a new generation of emission-free trains equipped with fuel cells.
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