The agreement launches a major partnership between Ansaldo Fuel Cells and Enel, involving the development of molten carbonate fuel cells.

The agreement covers the joint construction by mid-2009 of a highly efficient plant, with capacity of around 0.5MW, at Enel’s research center in Livorno, Italy, which will be able to supply electricity as well as heating and cooling energy.

Ansaldo Fuel Cells will install new components and solutions at the plant. The partnership also covers the joint development of certain system components, notably the interface between the fuel cells and the electricity grid.

The initiative is in line with Enel’s research of distributed generation as part of its environment and innovation plan, to which the firm has allocated a total investment of E4 billion until 2011.