The paper describes the research activities carried out at the CNR Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies "Nicola Giordano", aimed to develop, assemble and test a hydrogen generator, named HYGen I, to integrate with a PEFC (polymer electrolyte fuel cell) for residential applications. The unit, capable to convert light hydrocarbons (methane, propane, LPG, butane), with a nominal hydrogen production of 2N m(3) h(-1) and a maximum hydrogen production of 5 N m(3) h(-1), can be considered the only prototype of this size in Italy. Preliminary experimental results, with a proprietary Pt/CeO2 catalyst for the autothermal reforming (ATR) and commercial catalysts for intermediate water gas shift (ITWS) and preferential oxidation (PROX) have been reported. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.