An inspired collaboration, initiated by GRDF[1] and the Mulhouse city authorities and carried out in the framework of ene.field and EnergieVie Pool projects, has installed the first fuel cell micro-CHP in the region of Alsace, France. The fuel cell micro-CHP unit, developed by the European manufacturer RBZ, has been installed in the Architect’s Office of the municipality of Mulhouse, bringing first-hand experience of home energy to leading stakeholders tackling the energy transition at the local level.The mayor of Mulhouse, Jean Rottner, commented “I believe that fuel cells hold a great potential for achieving our energy and decarbonisation objectives. Fostering sustainable development is one of my key priorities as mayor of Mulhouse. My office wholeheartedly supports the installation of a fuel cell micro-CHP in the Architect’s Office and is hopeful for a fruitful cooperation in the future.”

Mulhouse is using its public buildings to learn more about and assess a range of innovative sustainable energy solutions like fuel cell micro-CHP, as part of its strategy to achieve climate and energy objectives. According to the Commissioner for Energy Transition of the Mulhouse Conurbation, Jo Spiegel: “This project is one of twenty projects being carried out by the Conurbation in its pursuit of sustainable energy solutions for the future. Innovation is a key factor for the success of energy our transition”

The Architect’s Office installation provides heat and 5kW of electricity enough to provide 40% of the building’s total electricity demand. The unit which runs on natural gas is manufactured by RBZ in Germany and is part of the ene.field project.

RBZ Managing Director, Christoph Hildebrandt, welcomed the project saying: “RBZ is glad to be part of this initiative. Fuel cell micro-CHPs are innovative products, which empower consumers to efficiently produce their own electricity and heat while reducing their environmental impact. We are committed to continue delivering fuel cell micro-CHP to European consumers in the framework of the ene.field project.”

[1] By answering, in 2014, to the EnergiVie Pool call of projects “Innovative experiments of solutions on French government or local authorities buildings by companies”, GRDF has been the initiator and facilitator of this project, which is part of a long list of references in France. Moreover, the experimentation is being driven, for the first time in France, by a unique Consortium of different and complementary professional partners (technical and financial). Beside GRDF: INGEROP (engineering & studies) and STIHLE (installation & workforce) are also partners of the EnergiVie Pool and they are all sharing a strong Alsatian anchor and a great taste for innovation.

Picture credit: GRDF website 

To read the full press, please click here: 15_160502_Press Release_Mulhouse case study

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