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During the course of the project, we will be developing a decentralized GeneratorSet on the basis of PEM Fuel Cell technology (Proton Exchange Membrane) with an electric power range of 50-60 kW. Inhouse testing will be followed by an endurance test over a period of 1,500 hrs. Finally, and on the basis of a thorough analysis of the test results, we will derive guidances for design and service of the FCGenSets.

Total costs are estimated at EUR 1.97 Mio. over a period of 36 months, commencing on the 1st January 2022. Based on a resolution of the German Bundestag, we have been granted subsidies amounting to EUR 1.66 Mio. by the “Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz” (BMUV) as well as the Export Initiative Environmental Protection (EXI).

CBC performs the testing in Germany in cooperation together with certain other partners. With regards to India, a consortium of local partners will be established in order to carry out test rounds, organized namely by the Fraunhofer-Institut IPA in cooperation with the Indian Fraunhofer outlet as well as the AHK (“Außenhandelskammer”) India. In the short run, a search is being conducted in order to identify a local partner and venue which meets the requirements for a safe, secure and sustainable operation. After finalizing this project, the objective of follow up actions is to establish a competence center for decentralized fuel cell-based power generation in India and to create a basis for zero-emission power supply for construction sites, schools, water supply and farming sites. The final goal of this project will be a scalable fuel cell based GenSet prototype ready to serve as back up, emergency or mobile plug-in power system and therefore provide emission-free, self-sustaining electrical energy where a reliable power grid is missing.

Role of CBC

As the initiator of the “Eco-FCGen”-project, CBC has obtained the overall responsibility to lead the endeavours of the entire team comprising of

• Universität Bayreuth UBT (specialits for circular economy),
• Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionstechnik und Automatisierung IPA, Stuttgart (specialists for fuel cell and battery technology),
• CBC GmbH & Co.KG (specialists for power train solutions and application engineering).

CBC´s role within the Eco-FCGen project is to analyse the qualification and usability of the fuel cell technology as an energy source for power generation in a decentralized remote genset application. Hence, CBC will be responsible for the identification and selection of the suitable fuel cell system, the development and construction design of the powertrain, the integration engineering of the powerpack into the genset and finally, the carrying out and evaluation of the endurance tests in Europe and India.