Reply #5: You might want to read this [View All]

[kristopher]

http://fuelcellsworks.com/news/2011/02/09/tokyo-gas-and-panasonic-to-launch-new-improved-“ene-farm”-home-fuel-cell-with-world-highest1-generation-efficiency-at-more-affordable-price/

With greater efficiency in the “stacks” which generate electricity and other improvements, the rated generation efficiency has been raised to 40% – the world’s highest generation efficiency for a household fuel cell co-generation system(1).
The improvement in the durability of “stacks” and “fuel-processing device” which produces hydrogen from the city gas allows the operation of 50,000 hours, up 25% from the conventional model. This enhancement in generation efficiency and durability makes it possible to retain the same energy-saving and CO2 reduction effects as the conventional model, but with the rated generation capacity reduced from 1.0kW to 750W. In addition, the lower limit of the generation output has been changed from 300W for the previous model to 250W for an operation on a basis of the recent trend of lowering standby power consumption in energy-saving home appliances.

The new “Ene-Farm” fuel cell offers a rated generation efficiency of 40% (LHV)(5), representing a further improvement on the existing range of products with over 37% (LHV) efficiency, the highest in the world to date(1). The system configuration of “fuel cell unit” has been greatly simplified and the core components such as the “stacks” which generate electricity have been significantly downsized. These cost-saving efforts have allowed Tokyo Gas and Panasonic to significantly lower the recommended retail price of the new system to 2,761,500 yen (including tax; excluding installation fee), a saving of as much as around 700,000 yen compared to the current models.

Since the launch of the world’s first “Ene-Farm” products in May 2009 through January 2011, Panasonic has shipped a total of approximately 5,000 units throughout Japan, of which approximately 4,000 have been sold by Tokyo Gas. For Fiscal Year 2012 ending in March 2012 (FY2012), Panasonic will set up a production system to expand the annual capacity more than 6,000 units(6), double its production estimate for FY2011. At the same time, Tokyo Gas will aim for annual sales of 5,000 units, double the FY2011 sales target of 2,500 units.


2,761,500 yen at current exchange rate of about 77 yen per dollar = $36K+

Not sure how the operating profile looks for this system, but 24/7 eats up 50,000 hours in 5.7 years.