Tokyo Gas Co. announced on December 6, 2004 that it will start selling the world's first fuel cell (FC) cogeneration system for residential use that employs a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), starting February 8, 2005. The system, co-developed with Ebara Ballard Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., has a rated electricity generation capacity of one kilowatt and a hot water tank capacity of 200 liters.

Tokyo Gas will offer up to 200 units by the end of fiscal 2005 to households in its service areas where sufficient maintenance can be provided. The company will start recruiting users in January 2005. The company and users will enter into 10-year "FC Partnership Agreements" that outline arrangements for use of the systems, which Tokyo Gas will continue to own. Each user will pay one million yen (about U.S.$9,009) as a contract fee, which also covers maintenance costs.

Based on the agreements, Tokyo Gas will survey users and collect operating data for the first three years. The information will used in product development to improve the performance of the systems. For the first three years, users will receive a three percent discount from standard gas charges and an upper limit will be set for monthly charges. The company expects to sell thousands or tens of thousands of systems annually starting in fiscal 2008.

http://www.tokyo-gas.co.jp/Press_e/20041206-2e.pdf
- Tokyo Gas to Market Home Fuel Cell Co-generation System in 2005 (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/651-e

Posted: 2005/03/06 10:47:23 AM
Japanese version

TAG Eco-product/Business , Energy , Manufacturing industry , Non-manufacturing industry