SenerTec attends for the first time
The fuel cells technology on which Gummert was collaborating until a few months ago, can now be found in the Dachs InnoGen from SenerTec. The company SenerTec Kraft-Wärme-Energiesysteme GmbH which was established in 1996, was originally aligned to selling the mini Dachs cogeneration unit. In 2002, the Schweinfurt-based company was taken over by the British Baxi Group, which has been part of the BDR Thermea Groupe since 2009. Combined with the devices technology offered by Hamburg firm Baxi Innotech and the PEM fuel cells know-how from Toshiba, in recent months, the former Gamma Premio has become Dachs InnoGen (0,7 kWel, ŋel = 40%, ŋges = 96%). This is especially designed for detached houses and/or a low energy house, meaning for relatively high requirement for electricity and a relatively low requirement for heat.

Sten Daugaard, Managing Director of Baxi Innotech, said the following about the entry of the Japanese company in 2014: “When evaluating our strategy for the marketing of fuel cell heating appliances, we realized that we had to find a partner who would supplement our knowledge and our leadership role with the sale of CHP systems in Europe. With the Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems Corp. we have found a partner who is able to bring along world-leading technology and important experience in the sale and servicing of fuel cell heating appliances in private households.” Field tests with some 50 devices are planned from the fourth quarter of 2015 onwards, and the market launch in mid 2016. According to the information supplied by SenerTec attorney Hagen Fuhl, the full price should then total 28,000 Euros.

Buderus is coming 2017
While Viessmann positioned its commercially available Vitovalor 300-P FC heating appliance in Hanover at a prominent position at the front of its large trade show booth on the main aisle of hall 27 – next to the presentation on the IBZ booth – with the design study for its Logapower BZH192iT in Titanium glass visuals the market launch of which is set to take place in mid 2017, Buderus limited itself to a comparatively small presentation at the shared stand for the decentralized provision of energy.

The prices are already falling
It is questionable as to whether this price will continue to remain valid until 2016, however, since Viessmann announced at the ISH 2015 that it intends for the price of his Vitovalor 300-P to be reduced to below 20,000 Euros. In the future, Viessmann wants to bring the Galileo 1000 N from Swiss partner company Hexis onto the market at a similar price. Elcore is being the most aggressive, however, having recently advertised the Elcore 2400 at a target price of less than 10,000 Euros. In Frankfurt and Hanover, most of the talk surrounded potential savings and subsidies rather than final prices. Ultimately, however, in this case, the gross system price inclusive of taxes would amount to 20,000 Euros.