Home Fuel cells and fuel cell technology has been a big buzz now for the last couple years with lots of talk and plans for cars that run on them and so on. But it has seemed to be very much a thing of the future and not of today in terms of consumer use of fuel cells for power generation.
But along comes a company to my attention of late that seems to be proving that wrong. Clear Edge Power is advertising a hydrogen fuel cell power system for home and business use now, not next year or beyond.
They have built a system that consists of a box about the size of a an air conditioning unit that houses their hydrogen fuel cell technology. The system runs on natural gas which is converted into power using their proprietary fuel cell technology.
ClearEdge Power offers a solution for high utility bills. Begin saving money and energy with a single, compact home fuel cell system. You can depend on the ClearEdge5 for electricity, heat and clear environmental benefits. Cost efficient and reliable, our unit is eligible for utility rebates and government incentives. In addition, the unit is not affected by seasonality and provides power year round, making it a better, more reliable choice than other energy alternatives.
ClearEdge5 is a combined heat and power (CHP) energy system based on fuel cell technology. This technology has demonstrated superior efficiency for years in industrial plants, universities, hotels and hospitals. ClearEdge Power is now making it available on a small commercial and residential scale. The ClearEdge5 is a compact system which efficiently converts natural gas or propane into both electricity and heat.
The ClearEdge5 consists of three core components modularly designed for ease of installation and maintenance. The Fuel Processor converts natural gas into ultra-clean hydrogen through a catalytic process, as opposed to burning the natural gas, which dramatically reduces pollutants. The hydrogen is processed through a Fuel Cell Stack, creating direct current (DC) power and heat. The Power Conditioning Unit converts the DC electricity into alternating current (AC), which then ties directly to the main electrical panel, providing steady continuous power for your electricity needs. The heat produced by the fuel cell is moved to the building through a heat exchanger supplying a continuous source of heating for hot water or space heating.
The list price for the ClearEdge5 is actually less expensive than equivalent residential solar PV systems, based on production. A major advantage over solar, the ClearEdge5 generates eleven times more energy than the same size solar installation. For the same capital investment, the ClearEdge5 gives you 90 MWh of annual combined electricity and heat, compared to approximately 8MWh generated by a 5kW solar system. Operating costs for the CE5 are as low as 6.0¢ per kWh based on $1.20 per therm for natural gas, assuming full electrical and heat utilization. The purchase price of the ClearEdge5 also includes a five-year EnergyPlus™ Service Agreement covering all installation, parts and maintenance.
So it would appear that clean fuel cell technology is on the market and ready for the ultimate testing. Will consumers and businesses adopt it and add it to their energy systems both home and business?
What do you think? Comment below and let us know your thoughts on this technology.
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