| Sulzer Hexis Ltd, who develops and manufactures fuel cell systems for single-family homes, and Gaz de France have signed a co-operation agreement on January 6, 2003. Gaz de France, one of the leading European natural gas companies, will test a preseries system “HXS 1000 Premiere” from Sulzer Hexis. The system has already been delivered and installation will be completed in January; it will be in operation until the end of 2003. Sulzer Hexis will have for the first time a preseries system operating in France. | |
With headquarters in Paris, Gaz de France is active worldwide in all aspects of natural gas: from production to the supply of industry, tertiary and residential outlets. The natural gas market in France is growing, as witnessed by the 220 000 new customers that decided to use natural gas for heating their homes in 2002. Within the framework of the co-operation agreement, Gaz de France will install and test a preseries system in a test house built on their research and development premises near Paris. As leader of fuel cells activities in France, Gaz de France will conduct this test as part of an on-going research programme that aims at evaluating the state of readiness of various fuel cell technologies and their suitability for the European and in particular French natural gas markets, including household applications.
The preseries system “HXS 1000 Premiere” of Sulzer Hexis covers the basic power needs and the entire heat requirements of a typical Central European single-family home. The fuel cell of type SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) generates 1 kW of electrical and 2.5 kW of thermal power. A back-up heater cuts in automatically if additional thermal power is needed.
Apart from this co-operation with Gaz de France, other co-operation agreements presently exist with ECN Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands as well as the working group Energie AG Oberösterreich and Erdgas Oberösterreich GmbH & CoKG. Furthermore, utilities, together with the local installers, are testing systems with house-owners within the framework of distribution agreements. Partner companies are EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, E.ON Energie AG, EWE AG, EWR AG, Thyssengas GmbH, VNG – Verbundgasnetz AG (all German) and GVM Gasverbund Mittelland AG (Switzerland).
The Sulzer Corporation (www.sulzer.com) comprises the four core divisions Sulzer Metco (surface coating technologies and services), Sulzer Turbomachinery Services, Sulzer Pumps (pumping solutions including services), Sulzer Chemtech (chemical process components and technologies) and the venture division Sulzer Hexis (fuel cell systems). The turnover by these divisions in 2001 totalled CHF 1875 million. The Sulzer Corporation now employs more than 9000 people worldwide. |