Fuel cells for distributed generation of heat and power represent a technology for decentralised energy supply in the residential and services sector. To be competitive, performance, costs and the high level of availability and safety which is typical for combined heat and power applications has to be verified by fuel cell systems as well. The advantage of Fuel Cell CHP applications is the high electric efficiency and the resulting high level of fuel utilisation.

Goal of the contribution is the evaluation of GHG reduction potentials for the deployment of fuel cells in distributed combined heat and power applications in comparison to conventional grid power supply and boiler systems. The calculation of efficiency, CO₂ emissions and costs will be made on the base of literature data and technology trends for the next five decades. The scenarios for possible markets and the potential of Fuel Cell applications for CHP will align to the scenarios of the IEA.
Basis of the Review of Fuel Cell CHP applications is a literature and internet research and a scan of demo projects and pilot run-series for distributed combined heat and power generation.

To establish a benchmark the CO₂ avoidance costs will be calculated in comparison to conventional boiler systems for heat supply and grid connected electricity. Also a comparison to other promising CHP systems for residential and services applications will be performed. The reduction potentials of Greenhouse Gas emissions will be scaled up to give predictions of the effects in aggregate for the OECD countries.