Ceramic Fuel Cells - has just signed deals to develop its fuel cells with two German companies -- energy supplier EWE and boiler manufacturer Bruns Heiztechnik GmbH.

An Australian company, it has a dual listing on London's AIM as well as the ASX. Yet the focus of their expansion is principally Europe. As their recent annual report mentioned, a site has been found in Germany for volume manufacturing at the Nuon Industrial Park, North Rhine Westphalia. And more encouragingly, unlike some fuel cell companies, the end of development and the start of mass manufacturing is within sight - about 2009, according to this roadshow powerpoint on page 10.

Back in August 2005, I said about CFC,

"It used to be thought that it was more a question of if fuel cells would ever come into the home. Now it's looking more like when. There are though two questions that need to be answered;

My guess is that over the next 2 to 3 years we will find out the answers. And Ceres Power and CFC will either be on the road to greatness or the dirt track to nowhere. "

The answer to the last question is for CFC now clear - as received EUR 3.2m in funding from the North Rhine Westphalia regional government. From 2009 we will find out if the home fuel cell market comes of age and consumers actually buy them.