Residential fuel cell based combined heat and power (FC-CHP) systems have been commercialized and are penetrating the marketed in Japan. In order to utilize FC-CHP systems efficiently, operational strategies are required. Energy interchange among consumers improves efficiency by allowing flexible operation of equipment. An energy management system (EMS), which is installed at the consumer dwelling, can integrate the control and management of energy equipment by using an optimized planning approach that incorporates the energy interchange and can operates equipment whilst adjusting to real conditions. An EMS has been developed, which achieves optimal operation of FC-CHP systems with energy interchange between dwellings in a residential area. Case studies were performed to evaluate the EMS model by using evaluation indices including energy costs, CO2 emissions, and primary energy consumption. The results showed that 1) energy management and energy interchange were effective and contributed to cost reductions, CO2 mitigation, and reduction of primary energy consumption and 2) the developed EMS model achieved optimal operations. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd