Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc. and RWE Plus AG will form a joint venture to develop and distribute fuel cell systems in Europe. The partners plan to develop, manufacture, and sell combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell systems with an electrical output of up to 50 kW for use in residential and small commercial power applications. The joint venture aims to commercialise the products by 2004 and will sell broadly to all utilities and customers, although RWE Plus will be a âpreferred customerâ? of the new entity. The joint venture, which is on an exclusive basis, will focus on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems that can operate on natural gas and propane, among other fuels (excluding hydrogen). Field tests aimed at system optimisation are planned in Germany starting mid-2002. Moreover, the partners will investigate other applications, e.g., in telecommunications, where electricity supply must be of outstanding quality.
