Originally published March 2 2005
Fuel cells for powering the home will soon be available in Japan
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Tokyo Gas Co. is teaming with Nippon Oil Corp. to produce the first fuel cells for the home. Using government funding to offset initial start-up costs, these fuel cells with provide clean power for the home while cutting down on the total about of energy wasted in the power grid. Though these fuel cells are still expensive, they are a starting point and it is expected that volume will help bring the prices down.
By using hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, home-water heaters of the future will do the job without spewing carbon dioxide.
With government subsidies, the environmentally friendly devices will be installed in homes on a limited rental basis in April by Tokyo Gas Co.
As higher emission standards set by the Kyoto Protocol have kicked in this month to thwart global warming, hopes are high for what is touted as the world's first commercially produced home fuel cell.
The tank has a capacity for 200 liters of hot water; the smaller unit is a miniature power station.
The Nippon Oil version works on a similar principle, except hydrogen is extracted from liquefied petroleum gas.
While no carbon dioxide is released as it generates power, the gas is released when hydrogen is extracted.
By generating power and heat, it makes effective use of energy, which helps cut down on overall carbon-dioxide emission, officials said.
Hot-water tanks for baths are filled by evening.
The rest is simply wasted or lost when transmitted to homes.
But fuel-cell co-generation-producing power and heat on site as needed-will turn 31 percent of natural gas energy into electricity, and 40 percent into heat.
According to calculations, if the fuel cell is going at full throttle, it can slash carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent.
Energy consumption can be cut by 26 percent, compared to producing the same amount of power and hot water with conventional water heaters powered by thermal power stations.
The model household will be able to save about 60,000 yen annually on electricity and gas utilities, according to Tokyo Gas estimates.
Tokyo Gas aims to eventually market the system at 500,000 yen, down from the current manufacturing cost of several million yen per unit.
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