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Japanese-German cooperation Project

Japanese Fuel Cell Manufacturer JX Nippon Oil & Energy and Zentrum für BrennstoffzellenTechnik Duisburg conclude the MoU for the fuel cell evaluation test in Germany

Hideaki Sugano und Tomonari Komiyama von JX erläutern NRW Umweltminister Johannes Remmel die gemeinsamen Aktivitäten mit ZBT (von rechts nach links).

Pressrelease of Kompetenznetzwerks Brennstoffzelle und Wasserstoff NRW /  24.4.2012

The Japanese fuel cell manufacturer JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation (JX) and the German Research Institute Zentrum für BrennstoffzellenTechnik (Center for Fuel Cell Technology, ZBT), an associated institute of the University of Duisburg-Essen, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the cooperation of JX’s residential fuel cell system. The purpose of the cooperation is to evaluate the system under the German gas and water conditions.

JX has been developing fuel cell micro CHP for over 25 years and begun marketing Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system last year in residential sector in Japan.

JX is one of the leading fuel cell manufacturers in Japan and is considering entering into European market. Germany is expected to become one of the major markets in Europe for micro CHP. The SOFC system with its high electric efficiency will be the favorite technology for micro CHP.

JX believes their SOFC system has a big potential to the market, and they would like to adapt it to regional conditions especially gas and water.
ZBT is thought to be an ideal institute in this cooperation and JX appreciates to have the support from ZBT.  

The Zentrum für BrennstoffzellenTechnik was established in 2001 in Duisburg in the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). It is one of the leading fuel cell research institutes in Germany. ZBT is working on the development of fuel cell stacks, reformers, fuel cell systems and also offers support for the CE certification. Such bundle of expertise makes ZBT a very good partner for JX. “We are proud that JX has chosen us to support them”, said Prof. Angelika Heinzel, full professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen and head of the institute. ZBT will provide the facilities and the equipment for the testing of units. The project is scheduled to start in June 2012.

The co-operation with Japan’s leading energy and mining group is also a success of North Rhine-Westphalia’s long-term activities in Japan. NRW Japan K.K., the subsidiary of NRW.INVEST, the Economic Development Agency of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia, was established already in 1992 and acted a first contact point for the company in Japan. NRW.INVEST sees great potential in the world class technology developed by market leaders from Japan in relation to the Energy Shift. The project with ZBT in Duisburg was realized in close cooperation between NRW.INVEST, the NRW Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network and  JX Nippon Oil &Energy.

The agency contacted the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network of the Energy Agency NRW, a regional organization responsible for the promotion of the fuel cell technology in NRW. The network has so far more than 400 members and brings together companies and research institutes from all over the world to start joint projects. Last year the network organized for JX visits to several potential institutes and finally the ZBT was selected. The network accompanied the negotiations between the two parties which have now come to a successful end. “It was a great honor for us to be entrusted by JX and ZBT to work as a bridge builder for the two parties”, said Dr. Frank Koch from the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network NRW and responsible for Japan affairs.

Both JX and ZBT are exhibiting at the Hannover Messe from April 23-27, 2012. JX can be found in hall 27, booth C 56. ZBT is member of the NRW Joint Energy stand, also in hall 27, booth E 60.

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