The large-scale market introduction of fuel cell (FC) based micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems in residential application faces a broad range of challenges, including non-economic barriers, which require special attention. This report identifies the non-economic barriers in terms of product perception by consumers or installers, supply chain limitations, policy and political environment and the performance of the system in operation, and proposes actions to address them to facilitate the market uptake of FC micro-CHPs.
Complementing the right market conditions, awareness among end-users and supply chain, as well industry’s further efforts to speed up the industrialisation of FC micro-CHP production, a coherent, steady and predictable policy framework, is key to recognise and incentivise investments by the European heating sector in advanced products and new business models contributing to a more efficient, reliable and cleaner energy system .
The comprehensive review of the policy and political context , conducted as part of the ene.field project, concluded that the multiple consumer and energy system benefits of FC micro-CHP are not adequately recognised and rewarded by most policy at the EU and national levels.
In addition to high level recognition of fuel cell micro-CHP at both EU and national levels, removing barriers and fully accounting for the consumer and system level benefits in building codes, energy labelling and other secondary policy instruments is key to ensure that the right drivers are in place, once the mass market commercialisation stage has been reached. Promoting innovative business models to accompany the roll out of FC micro-CHP will also help consumers derive further benefits from the technology.

To read the full report, please click on the following link: Non-economic barrier report

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