"The construction sector represents a strategically important sector for the European Union employing in 2005 13.8 million people, SMEs are indeed the major force of the construction sector representing 99% of such industry. The EU Building Sector is a major energy consumer (more than 40% of the total energy consumed in the EU is used to cover the needs for heating, cooling and electricity). According to Directive 2006/32/EC in the community there is a need for improved energy end-use efficiency and according to Directive 2002/91/EC on energy performance of buildings need to be certified. In this scenario, our idea is to develop a 30kW micro CHP system able to provide heat and power for a more efficient energy end-use in buildings. The main objective of H2OME is to introduce the novel concept of a Polymeric Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell based CHP system able to satisfy both the thermal (heating and sanitary water), cooling and electrical power need of the whole building replacing the small methane boiler installed in the single flats as well as old-fashioned centralised oil thermal plant used in the 60s. In order to achieve the above overall objective the following innovations need to be developed: 1)compact and high efficiency steam reformer able to operate with methane, methanol and bio-gas; 2)composite catalyst compound promoting water gas shift reaction with a temperature of about 300°C and able to operate with an hydrogen rich mixture without any CH4 formation; 3)a novel thermal spraying-based manufacturing process for the production of the helicoidally shaped structure made by a metallic mesh coated with a ceramic porous coating catalytic layer. As a consequence of the new directives, it is estimated that 10 million boilers in European homes more than 20 years old need to be replaced and considering an initial market penetration of 2% in 5 years of the project the potential market is about 600 M€, which is far beyond the cost of the project (1.3 M€)."