Fuel Cells For Electricity And Heat

Imagining a world without oil

Imagine, for a moment, a world where fossil fuels are no longer burned to generate power, heat and light. A world no longer threatened by global warming or geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. A world where every person on earth has access to electricity. That world now looms on the horizon.

We are in the early stages of an historic change in the way we organize the Earth’s energy. The Industrial Age, which began with the carrying of coal from Newcastle several hundred years ago, is now winding down in the oil fields of the Middle East. Meanwhile, a wholly new energy regime is being readied. Hydrogen – the lightest and most abundant element of the universe – is the next great energy revolution.

Scientists call it the "forever fuel" because it never runs out. And when hydrogen is used to produce power, the only byproducts are pure water and heat. Hydrogen has the potential to end the world’s reliance on oil from the Persian Gulf, the most politically unstable and volatile region of the world.

Indeed, making the transition to hydrogen is the best assurance against the prospects of future oil wars in the Middle East. Hydrogen will also dramatically cut down on carbon dioxide emissions and mitigate the effects of global warming. And because hydrogen is so plentiful, people who have never before had access to electricity will be able to generate it."

The best known residential fuel cell program underway in the US is by Plug Power (2003), a partnership with General Electric, who does the installation and service.

These fuel cells are based on a high temperature polymer membrane (PEM), and must use hydrogen obtained by reforming natural gas or propane on-site. The combination of reformer and fuel cell is about the size of a washer/dryer set and are frequently placed outside the house for hydrogen safety.

As on date, Plug Power has 126 units installed, with a total of about a million operating hours, producing about 2650MWh of electricity.

Their GenSys® models range from 2 to 25kW, from residential to light commercial buildings. For example, the GenSys® model 5C produces 2.5 to 5 kW of electric power and 9 kW of thermal power simultaneously from a natural gas input. It produces voltage output of 120 V AC, 60 Hz as standard with an option for 208 V AC and 240 V AC.

The unit is 2 m long _ 0.9m wide _ 1.8 m high (74" long _ 32" wide _ 68.25" high) and designed for outside installation. It has product certifications

by FCC as Class B, ANSI, CSA International, UL, and CE.

66,000 depending on the details of the installation, quantity, etc. As on date, the GenSys 5C prime power fuel cell system is being sold for test and demonstration purposes to target customers in order to maximize their learning and to assist in the commercialization of the GenSys product family.

The GenSys 5C is not ready right now for sale to the general public. It is typically placed with organizations such as utilities, national testing laboratories, universities, and certifying agencies.

When the GenSys products contain the feature set required by the residential market, they will become available for sale to the general public. Their commercialization progress and product availability will be posted on the Plug. So it is worth watching this new company. There is a powerful synergy between solar PV and natural gas or propane-powered fuel cells.

These fuel cells will replace the need for batteries in off-grid installations. When there is no sunlight or inadequately low levels of sunlight, the fuel cell can produce the electricity and thermal energy. When there is enough sunlight for PV electricity and solar thermal for heating, the fuel cell can shutoff.

There is a reasonable turn down of fuel cell output of around 50%, so that it can do a limited amount of load-following. As the residential and light commercial market begins to grow substantially, it is projected that the prices will drop substantially to $3000/kW or lower and the residential fuel cell market will take off.