Canadian fuel cell maker Ballard has opened its European headquarters in Germany. Fuji is delivering its first fuel cell exports there. And in recent weeks, US-based fuel cell power plant manufacturer FuelCell Energy announced a partnership with renowned German research institute Fraunhofer IKTS.
At this year's Globe 2012, the biennial conference and trade fair on business and the environment, earlier this month, Germany Trade & Invest experts highlighted business opportunities in Germany's quickly growing market for fuel cells.
"We have seen these developments coming for a long time, but finally the market conditions for fuel cells are just right. Germany's share of renewable energies is rising so quickly that energy storage is urgently needed. In Germany, fuel cell companies have a chance to be in the right place at the right time," said Raphael Goldstein, energy storage expert at Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.
Innovative companies from all over the world are looking to Europe's largest market as a testing ground for their technologies and market strategies. Germany's renewable energy share in the electricity mix is already greater than 20 percent. The increase of fluctuating energy sources, such as wind and solar, increases the demand for storage.
"The innovation strength of Germany makes our presence there crucial. The expertise we found at Germany Trade & Invest has led us to the best matched partners and opportunities for R&D and investment," stated Dr. Christopher Guzy, VP and Chief Technology Officer of Ballard.
And while companies are investing in new headquarters and research partnerships, demonstration projects are entering a new phase as well. Europe's largest hydrogen refuelling station opened in recent weeks in Hamburg.
Germany Trade & Invest representative, Raphael Goldstein, also spoke at a brand new trade fair in Dusseldorf last week, Energy Storage - International Summit for the Storage of Renewable Energies, a further testament to the industry's growing significance in Germany.
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