Residential fuel cells could cut energy bills and lower CO2 emissions
Fuel cell technology designed for use in homes, which could cut household carbon dioxide emissions by almost one third and significantly reduce energy bills, is being developed in the UK.
Ceres Power, which has developed Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology known as SteelCell, has announced an agreement with an unnamed manufacturer to integrate the system into its products for residential customers.
The two-year agreement, which is being supported with a £700,000 grant to Ceres Power by Innovate UK, will see the manufacturer carry out systems engineering work to integrate the core SteelCell technology into commercial products.
SteelCell technology consists of individual steel SOFCs, which can be piled on top of one another to form stacks. The stacks can then be used to provide power and heat for hot water.
One stack consisting of 100 cells can provide enough power and hot water for one home, while 100 stacks can be used for apartment blocks and businesses.
The cells are fuel-flexible, meaning they can be used now to generate power from natural gas supplies, but could ultimately convert biogas or hydrogen into electricity, according to Phil Caldwell, CEO of Ceres Power.
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