In an open letter to the European Commission Vice President Šefčovič the ene.field project stressed the key contribution of innovative fuel cell micro-CHP energy solutions to realising the Energy Union vision and called for better recognising fuel cell benefits in the upcoming legislative proposals.

Fuel cell micro-CHP energy solutions harness the superior efficiency of the chemical conversion of fuel to simultaneously produce heat and electricity. This turns small energy consumers into active contributors to Europe’s energy transition, enabling them to save energy, reduce their carbon footprint and support the integration of variable renewable energy technologies.

The EU fuel cell industry and the research community have worked closely with policy makers at EU level and in some Member States so that fuel cell micro-CHPs have reached technological maturity. Fuel cell micro-CHPs are now moving from a research concept and into our homes. The ene.field and now PACE[1] projects are setting the foundation for the large scale uptake of these innovative products after 2020.

The ene.field consortium supports the European Energy and Climate Framework vision and insists that forthcoming EU legislation is designed to fully harness fuel cell micro-CHP benefits. Upcoming legislative proposals under the Winter Package [2]should be conducive to stable and favourable policy frameworks at EU and national levels (notably with regard to market uptake funding) and address administrative and regulatory barriers. The European Union and the Member States should work jointly to create a favourable policy environment for fuel cell micro-CHP uptake, considering the sector’s contribution in terms of jobs and growth, security of supply and GHG emission reductions.