December 2004

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What is claimed to be Europe’s first bi-fuel molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) “HotModule” went on stream at the “Fuel Cell Innovation Park” Berlin in late September. The unit is operated by Berlin’s BeWAG utility, part of Vattenfall Europe group of utilities based in Berlin. The device, built by MTU Friedrichshafen under license from FuelCell Energy, Danbury, CT, can run on natural gas, the fuel used for which it was originally designed, but also on methanol as well as industrial residue gas, landfill gas and biogas. Methanol can be produced from organic wastes and biomass without any net carbon dioxide emissions. Net output to the grid is about 230 kW, plus 180 kW thermal, and electrical efficiency is about 56%. MTU says series production is scheduled to start 2006. Contact: MTU (media), Daniel Reinhardt, 0049/7541/90-21 59, e-mail daniel.reinhardt@mtu-online.com.