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Tech Valley News
Plug Power to Install Residential Fuel Cells
Plug Power Inc., a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions today announced that they have received a $1.4 million award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to install and operate three combined heat and power GenSys fuel cell systems in New York state homes. These systems will allow Plug Power to validate and enhance product features in preparation for broad scale product commercialization. The first system is scheduled to be installed this summer with all three units expected to be operational this year.
A residential GenSys unit will be installed in the basement of each home and will operate in conjunction with the electric grid, running on natural gas. The fuel cell will produce electricity and high-quality heat to satisfy the home’s heating and domestic hot water demands. Plug Power estimates that GenSys will save the homeowner approximately 30% on their monthly utility bill.
The GenSys solution is expected to achieve an overall combined efficiency of 85%. Currently, homes utilizing grid electricity and typical heating systems average 44% household efficiency. “This increased efficiency level yields an annual CO2 reduction roughly equivalent to not driving your car for six months,” said Mark Sperry, Vice President of Plug Power’s Continuous Power Division. “The residential GenSys solution will allow for tremendous reductions in monthly energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.”
“This project marks another step toward the commercialization of our residential GenSys product,” said Andy Marsh, CEO at Plug Power. “GenSys’s state-of-the-art technology has moved out of the labs and into real homes – homes with families, pets and swimming pools. This product will revolutionize the way energy is used around the world.”
Other partners on this project include:
- National Grid for site selection and grid interconnection
- CSA Engineering Services, LLC for mechanical integration to the home heating system and grid interconnection design
- Chuck Russo Heating and Air Conditioning, LLC for mechanical installation of fuel cell system
- Socaris Electric for electrical installation of the fuel cell system
- NYSERDA has funded several projects to advance the development of Plug Power’s high-temperature fuel cell system and this milestone project marks the culmination of many years of collaboration.
NYSERDA President and CEO, Francis J. Murray, Jr. welcomed the demonstration: “Plug Power’s continuing leadership in developing residential fuel cell units has been demonstrated through its GenSys program. NYSERDA is pleased to match Plug Power’s $1.44 million investment in its development and we look forward to receiving its operating results as a step toward commercialization of a unit that could dramatically reduce a homeowner’s energy bill and carbon footprint at the same time.”
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