Gas-powered fuel cell

Heat pumps are also subsidized up to 35% of the costs

But that was not the question

So if I understood correctly, the electricity is not used for heat generation, heat is also produced during the generation, and additionally through the combustion of the residual materials after reforming.

And I don't really see electricity becoming cheaper either, I rather think that gas and electricity prices will constantly rise.

Gas is fossil and will become more expensive (CO2 tax). Electricity will rather become cheaper.

My crystal ball says that the Russians will push so much cheap gas through Nordstream II that this ~1.5 Ct/kWh CO2 tax in 2026 will be swallowed by the falling gas price. And that electricity will continue to become more expensive, since there are neither sufficient base load replacement capacities for nuclear power nor coal available or planned. But we can gladly swap crystal balls sometime.

He means a gas boiler with a fuel cell. Hydrogen is extracted from the gas and a little heat and electricity are generated. If more heat is needed, the gas boiler kicks in. The models available in Germany are licensed products from Japan that have been tested. It is very expensive (20-30k€) but also heavily subsidized. Paperwork for electricity production (750w - 1 kw) is the same as with photovoltaics. We have also looked into it. Unfortunately, we need a high peak power (pool) and there was nothing suitable in that size. Worth considering for normally sized houses.

The fuel cell of a well-known manufacturer, which I am currently having installed at a construction project, consists of a conventional gas boiler and a fuel cell that electrolytically converts the natural gas into water in a "cold combustion" process with supplied oxygen from the air, generating electricity and, as a byproduct, waste heat that is fed to the heating system. For the higher heat demand in winter, there is the normal gas boiler, which is switched on as needed. So it is a hybrid system.

The costs are high – the system for the planned construction project (350m2 heated living space) delivers 750W electrically and heating power modulating 2-32 kW and costs, with ready-for-operation installation, maintenance contracts, etc. – but without electricity storage – approximately €35,000 gross and is subsidized by the KfW with about €14,000.

The 32 kW max was the problem for us. We are now getting a 43 kW gas boiler. Otherwise, we would have also combined it with a fuel cell.