Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumThe house that provides its own energy
Swissinfo.ch Mar 28, 2016
Construction is nearly complete on an innovative, multi-family house in canton Zurich that can collect and store enough solar power to fulfil the energy needs of its tenants.
The project has been aptly named The House of the Future, and it is claimed to be the worlds first energy self-sufficient apartment block. The dwelling is being built in Brütten, and by springtime it will be ready to house nine families...snip
...The engineering company behind the project estimates that only one hour of sunlight will be sufficient to power the entire building for 24 hours.
To ensure that surplus energy is available during bad weather days, a power-to-gas plant, which converts solar energy into hydrogen, has been integrated into the house. When insufficient energy is produced from sunlight alone, a fuel cell will use the hydrogen to generate the needed electricity.
Read More: http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/multimedia/sustainable-living_the-house-that-provides-its-own-energy/41918896
In der Schweiz Wasserstoff ist #1
polly7
(20,582 posts)Lodestar
(2,388 posts)I assumed they were not feasible, particularly for residential use.
kristopher
(29,798 posts)nationalize the fed
(2,169 posts)As of January 2015, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Saibu Gas Co., Ltd., Shizuoka Gas Co., Ltd., Keiyo Gas Co., Ltd., Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd. Hiroshima Gas Co., Ltd., Odawara Gas Co., Ltd., Oita Gas Co., Ltd., Okayama Gas Co., Ltd., Daiwa Gas, Tobu Gas, Yamaguchi Godo Gas, Tokai Gas, Shikoku Gas and the Gas Bureau of the City of Sendai have adopted the Panasonic household fuel cell (ENE FARM) and are promoting its installation and adoption in households. We have shipped a total of approx. 52,000 units.
Panasonic has developed a fuel cell unit with a built-in function for continuing to generate power during blackouts. Furthermore, to ensure flexible installation in various locations, we developed an integrated type whose backup boiler is built into the hot water storage unit, where the unit depth is maintained, in addition to the separate type where the backup boiler is separated from the hot water storage unit. Together with conventional household fuel cells for condominiums, we will expand product lineups to ensure flexibility for our customers' various installation conditions, and thereby further promote the spread of household fuel cells.
Panasonic's 2015 household fuel cell (ENE FARM) models to be released in April 2015 maintain a 95.0% (LHV)*1 rated total efficiency, but the recommended price is approx. 300,000 yen* lower than FY2013 models by reconfiguring the power generating stack, simplifying the system and reducing the number of components (by approx.15%).
The fuel cell unit with a built-in function for continuing to generate power during blackouts does not require any additional device installation space or work. The price of the function for continuing to generate power during blackouts is approx. 60,000 yen* less than the separate optional device...more
http://panasonic.co.jp/ap/FC/en_doc03_00.html
Ene-Farms Use Hydrogen to Power Homes but Don't Come Cheap
Bloomberg Business
Since commercial sales began in 2009, more than 100,000 Japanese households have installed generators that use hydrogen. Thats a long way from where the government wants to be. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has set a goal of 5.3 million hydrogen-powered homes, roughly 10 percent of Japans total, by 2030. The use of hydrogen can contribute to saving energy, tackling environmental issues, and increasing energy security, says Chihiro Tobe, head of the office promoting fuel cells at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. On Dec. 27, Abes cabinet endorsed legislation that would cover as much as 350,000 yen ($2,970) per home ene-farm purchase, according to the newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. The subsidy, however, is less than in previous years.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-15/fuel-cells-for-homes-japanese-companies-pitch-clean-energy
World's First "Ene-Farm" Home Fuel Cell for Condominiums to Be Released
http://news.panasonic.com/global/press/data/2013/10/en131021-5/en131021-5.html
Panasonic reduces size and price of Ene-Farm home fuel cell
http://www.gizmag.com/ene-farm-home-fuel-cell-panasonic/25856/
People that say they aren't feasible haven't been paying attention.
Japan, Korea and Germany are leading the Fuel Cell tech segment. Toshiba just opened a Hydrogen R&D center in Tokyo- expect major new developments
Toshiba Hydrogen R&D Center, Tokyo
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics will feature Hydrogen.
kristopher
(29,798 posts)They are an economic nonstarter. You see, some of us actually understand how the LDP government and the electric utilities in Japan are virtually a single entity. We know that they are trying desperately to restart their nuclear program - thereby the push for home fuel cells which are antithetical to a renewable system focused on the way inefficiencies such as fuel cells impact the design of the larger system.
So sure, if you want a centralized system built around nuclear power then fuel cells are eventually going to come down in price enough to make them feasible. But if you are looking at the way they triple the amount of renewable generation that needs to be deployed compared to battery storage, then you are probably going to conclude that they are Not Feasible.
Locrian
(4,522 posts)I assume this is "electricity" only used for appliances / lights and not "heat"?
Helen Borg
(3,963 posts)During Swiss winters it can get quite cold...
kristopher
(29,798 posts)Normal activities are usually sufficient to provide most of the heat.
At least, I assume thats what it is. You're probably familiar with the 'netzero energy home'.
dumbcat
(2,120 posts)I'd like to see their assumed daily energy load breakdown.