Tognum GmbH now sole owner of fuel-cell specialist mtu CFC Solutions

• Equity interest raised to 100 % as of January 1, 2007
• Tognum CEO Volker Heuer: "As stationary fuel cells approach the production stage, the emphasis will be shifted to worldwide marketing"

Friedrichshafen/Essen - Tognum GmbH (of Friedrichshafen) has acquired from RWE Fuel Cells GmbH (of Essen) its minority share of 18.1% in mtu CFC Solutions GmbH, which had previously been a joint venture between the two companies. The acquisition and transfer of ownership have taken place effective January 1, 2007. The two parties to the transaction have agreed not to divulge the price paid.

The increased equity interest now makes Tognum GmbH sole owner of mtu CFC Solutions, and expands its business operations in the pioneering field of stationary fuel cells. There will be a focus on the continued development of this technology for the generation of electricity and heat. mtu CFC Solutions is the world's first producer of fuel cells to use biogas to generate environment-friendly, CO2-neutral energy with carbonate fuel cells (CFC) in small, decentralized power plants. Tognum CEO Volker Heuer stated, "As stationary fuel cells approach the production stage, the emphasis will be shifted to worldwide marketing."

In line with a top-level strategic decision, RWE sees its role as an operator - and not a producer - of power plants. The sale of its shares in mtu CFC Solutions is therefore a logical step. RWE will continue its involvement with fuel cells, however. As an active user of fuel cells, RWE regularly tests and evaluates them, in this way making a valuable contribution to the further development of fuel-cell technology.

mtu CFC Solutions was jointly managed by MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (a Tognum subsidiary) and RWE Fuel Cells GmbH from 2003 onwards. It is domiciled in Ottobrunn near Munich, currently employs 85 persons, and is one of the world's leading specialists for high-temperature fuel cells for the environment-friendly generation of electricity and heat.

mtu CFC Solutions has so far installed more than 40 plants worldwide, together with its license partner Fuel Cell Energy (FCE). Just a few weeks ago, mtu CFC Solutions delivered the world's first large-scale biogas fuel-cell plant, which generates up to 1.4 million kilowatt-hours of CO2-neutral electricity per annum in Leonberg near Stuttgart, using biogas created from fermented organic waste.

High-temperature fuel cells typically generate up to 245 kilowatts of electricity and a maximum of 180 kilowatts of heat simultaneously (power-heat coupling). They are superior to block-type thermal power stations using engines: Their good electrical efficiency of nearly 50% is higher than with conventional technology, and their quiet operation is an advantage, particularly in urban applications.

The plants have demonstrated a high degree of technological maturity, having already produced more than 140,000 megawatt-hours of electrical energy. For the future, the construction of power plants with an electrical output of up to two megawatts is planned, either as power-heat coupling or in the combination of power, heat and cooling.