Home fuel cell

A home fuel cell, one of the available technologies for micro combined heat and power (microCHP) or microgeneration, is a residential-scaled energy system. A home fuel cell is an alternative energy technology that increases efficiency by simultaneously generating power and heat from one unit, on-site within a home. This allows a residence to reduce overall fossil fuel consumption, reduce carbon emissions and reduce overall utility costs, while being able to operate 24 hours a day.

Combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cells have demonstrated superior efficiency for years in industrial plants, universities, hotels and hospitals. Residential and small-scale commercial fuel cells are now becoming available to fulfill both electricity and heat demand from one system. Fuel cell technology in a compact system converts natural gas, propane, and eventually biofuels—into both electricity and heat, producing carbon dioxide (and small amounts of NOx) as exhaust. In the future, new developments in fuel cell technologies will likely allow these power systems to run off of biomass instead of natural gas, directly converting a home fuel cell into a renewable energy technology.^[1]

Specifics

• High initial capital costs - As of December 2012, Panasonic and Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. sold about 21,000 PEM Ene-Farm units in Japan for a price of $22,600 before installation.^[2]
• Startup time - PEMFC fuel cell mCHP operates at low temperature (50 to 100 °C) and needs high purity hydrogen, it is prone to contamination, changes are made to operate at higher temperatures and improvements on the fuel reformer. SOFC fuel cell mCHP operates at a high temperature (500 to 1,000 °CP) and can handle different energy sources well but the high temperature requires expensive materials to handle the temperature, changes are made to operate at a lower temperature. Because of the higher temperature, SOFC in general has a longer start-up time.
• Lifetime - Around 60,000 hours. For PEM fuel cell units, which shut down at night, this equates to an estimated lifetime of between ten and fifteen years.^[3]

Uses

Most home fuel cells fit either inside a mechanical room or outside a home or business, and can be discreetly sited to fit within a building's design. The system operates like a furnace, water heater, and electricity provider—all in one compact unit. Some of the newer home fuel cells can generate anywhere between 1 to 5 kilowatts (1.3 to 6.7 hp)—optimal for larger homes (370 square metres (4,000 sq ft) or more), especially if pools, spas, and radiant floor heating are in plans. Other uses include sourcing of back-up power for essential loads like refrigerator/freezers, electronics/computers, and wine cellars.

Deploying the system’s heat energy efficiently to a home or business' hot water applications displaces the electricity or gas otherwise burned to create that heat, which further reduces overall energy bills. Retail outlets like fast food chains, coffee bars, and health clubs gain operational savings from hot water heating.

Environmental impact

Because fuel cells generate electricity and heat on site, the chemical conversion of hydrocarbon fuels into energy is substantially more efficient than comparable grid-connected systems and heating by burning fuel. Fuel cells provide a significant net reduction in CO₂—about one-third lighter carbon footprint is possible when both heat and electricity are used. The system also reduces other harmful emissions produced by burning fuel at conventional power or heat generation sources. The lower carbon footprint supports many state goals and initiatives to address climate change impacts.

Installation

Home fuel cells are designed and built to fit in either an interior mechanical room or outside—running quietly in the background 24/7. Connected to the utility grid through the home’s main service panel and using net metering, the home fuel cells easily integrate with existing electrical and hydronic systems and are compliant with utility interconnection requirements. In the event of grid interruption the system automatically switches to operate in a grid-independent mode to provide continuous backup power for dedicated circuits in the home while the grid is down. It can also be modified to run off-the-grid, if desired.

Current installations

Twenty companies have installed Bloom Energy fuel cells in their buildings, including Google, eBay, and FedEx.^[4] The eBay CEO said to 60 Minutes, that they have saved $100,000 in electricity bills in the 9 months they have been installed.^[5]

Oregon-based ClearEdge Power has installations of its 5 kW system at the home of Jackie Autry,^[6] Bay Area Wealth Manager Bruce Raabe^[7] and VC investor Gary Dillabough.^[8]

Delta-ee consultants stated in 2013 that with 64% of global sales the fuel cell micro-combined heat and power passed the conventional systems in sales in 2012.^[9]

Cost

Most home fuel cells are comparable to residential solar energy photovoltaic systems on a dollar per watt-installed basis. Home fuel cells can generate eight times more energy per year than the same size solar installation, even in the best solar locations. For example, a 5 kW home fuel cell produces about 80 MWh of annual combined electricity and heat, compared to approximately 10MWh generated by a 5 kW solar system. However, these systems are not directly comparable because solar power is a renewable resource and natural gas is not.

Operating costs for home fuel cells can be as low as 6.0¢ per kWh based on $1.20 per therm for natural gas, assuming full electrical and heat load utilization.

Solar panels have minimal operation cost because they only occasionally need to be cleaned.

Incentives

In the U.S.A., home fuel cells are eligible for substantial incentives and rebates at both the state and federal levels as a part of renewable energy policy. For example, the California Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) rebate ($2,500 per kW) and Federal Tax Credits ($1,000 per kW residential and $3,000 per kW commercial) will significantly reduce the net capital cost to the customer. For businesses, additional cash advantages can be realized from bonus and accelerated depreciation of fuel cells.^[10]

In addition, home fuel cells receive net metering credit in many service areas for any excess electricity generated, but not used, by putting it back on the utility grid.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) provides comprehensive information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.^[11]

California

In California in particular, utilities charge higher per kWh rates as energy consumption rises above established baselines – with the top tier set at the highest rates to discourage consumption at those levels. Home fuel cells reduce customer exposure to the top tier rates, saving homeowners as much as 45% in reduced annual energy costs.^[12]

Market status

Home fuel cells is a new market and represents a fundamental shift in the sourcing of energy. An individual home fuel cell system installed in a US home becomes a part of the bigger picture of U.S. energy independence. An ultimate benefit of home fuel cells will be to eventually create networks of micro-CHP systems distributed throughout communities and business parks. This self-generation of energy in a distributed generation approach that will secure and increase US power generating capacity, enabling unused electricity to be sent back to the grids without having to add new power plants and transmission lines. Putting a home fuel cell system into homes has the potential to get people off-the-grid, play a significant role in energy efficiency, and reduce US dependence on foreign energy imports.

See also

• Feed-in Tariff
• Sustainable energy

References

External links

• US Department of Energy(DOE) Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy(EERE): Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program
• Fuel Cell Today
• Fuel Cells 2000
• US Fuel Cell Council