Germany is at the forefront of Fuel Cell micro-Cogeneration deployment in Europe, but volumes still need to scale up in order for costs to be decrease. The policy framework currently in place should be continued, and even further improved, by making it even steadier, more coherent and more predictable.

• Dedicated support schemes that adequately and fairly reward Fuel Cell micro-Cogeneration based on an agreed timeline & KPIs, such as the German KfW 433, should be continued in order to develop further the already advanced German market.
• Germany is the strongest early market, this is due to regional funding opportunities, tolerance of higher cost heating systems and a more developed manufacturer and installer base, among other factors.
• As long as these fuel cell micro-CHP products can deliver system wide benefits in terms of primary energy savings, GHG (including CO₂, NO_x, SO_x) reductions, RES integration, adequate support schemes should be designed to reward these technologies and facilitate their mass market uptake.
• In the German experience, partnerships between industry, policymakers and customers have proved essential for the promotion of Fuel Cell micro-Cogeneration in the country. The panellists agreed that manufacturers should address customer needs by delivering tailored solutions to the end-users. In addition to recognising Fuel Cell micro-Cogeneration as one of the key technologies to deliver the energy transition in Germany by addressing the barriers and providing sufficient support, public authorities themselves can give a boost to the industry by investing in these innovative technologies.
• The momentum towards reaching mass commercialisation for these home energy solutions should continue with an ambitious implementation of the KfW 433, facilitating the customers’ access to these technologies and enabling the smart grid capabilities of micro-Cogeneration systems.

The German success case provides a good example for other European markets, and projects like ene.field and PACE are contributing to the development of new markets around Europe while developing further the more advanced German market. If other Member States are to follow, with Fuel Cell micro-Cogeneration suppliers qualifying new routes to market and opening new markets, the development of a comprehensive policy framework is necessary with national authorities complementing the efforts of European institutions. National governments are also expected to address the lack of a common framework of European standards, which is seen as a great hindrance to market uptake with national stakeholders pointing at the need to update, improve and revise a large amount of the current standards for more consistent and better suited ones.