What are fuel cells?

Fuel cells are similar to batteries in that they have an anode and a cathode. The differences are that fuel cells require a fuel input and produce usable heat as well as electricity.

Ceramic Fuel Cells (CFC) uses solid oxide fuel cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity and heat without combustion or noise. It has achieved electrical efficiency of 60 per cent, far higher than any other technology in the rapidly expanding global market for small-scale power and heating products.

BlueGen

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The first product to be powered by CFC’s technology is the BlueGen unit. It uses natural gas to generate up to 2 kilowatts (kW) of electricity, as well as heat for hot water. The dishwasher-sized BlueGen unit can be installed inside or outside the home by an appropriately trained plumber with no gas pipeline upgrades required. It can be connected to existing natural gas, electricity and water supplies.

Generating interest

As at June 2010, CFC has received orders for 47 BlueGen units from a dozen leading energy utilities and other foundation customers in Europe, Japan and Australia. The first unit is operating at VicUrban’s Aurora housing development in Epping. Other units are being installed with Energy Australia in Sydney and the Victorian Government in Melbourne.

Neco is CFC’s first BlueGen distributor and is initially focusing on demonstration projects with non-residential customers such as utilities and government bodies. Neco and potentially other distributors will also service residential customers.

Government policy

CFC is currently lobbying federal and state governments for BlueGen units to qualify for renewable energy certificates because it uses natural gas. The units do not qualify for the various state-based “energy efficiency” schemes because they generate electricity. Furthermore, retailers are currently not obliged to pay BlueGen owners a premium for the electricity they export back to the grid because the current feed-in tariff schemes are restricted to solar photovoltaic.