Solar/Hydrogen Home Now Scheduled For Completion

 

Solar/Hydrogen Home Now Scheduled For Completion

Publication Date:10-Aug-2006
01:00 PM US Eastern Timezone
Source:FuelCellWorks


System Also to Generate Enough Hydrogen to Fuel Homeowner's Car
Hopewell, NJ -  The first solar/hydrogen home in North America
received all necessary permits and is now scheduled to be completed in
the fall, it was announced today by Renewable Energy International,
Inc.


Marking a major milestone in the development of the
sustainable-resource economy, the home is located in Hopewell, NJ,
approximately 70 miles from Manhattan. It features an advanced
residential solar/hydrogen fuel-cell storage and generation system that

converts energy between electricity and hydrogen, and will be
integrated into an existing solar and geothermal system at the home of
Mr. Michael Strizki. Mr. Strizki has also played a key role in the
project's advancement.


Major funding for this project has been provided by a grant from the
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). Part of a statewide clean

energy initiative, the objective of the NJBPU program is to transform
the energy marketplace in New Jersey toward more energy-efficient and
renewable-energy technologies. This home will be the first recipient of

New Jersey's fuel cell rebate program. Only fuel cells being fueled
by renewable energy sources qualify for the rebate.


Completion of this project will represent a significant achievement
toward furthering New Jersey's commitment to clean energy and will
help to maintain the state's position at the forefront of government
support for renewable-energy innovation and for incentives to reduce
energy costs while protecting the environment.


Lyle K. Rawlings, P.E., president of Advanced Solar Products, is the
design engineer for the project. "This installation is far more than
just a demonstration project," explains Mr. Rawlings."This home and
its power system have been engineered to function either with or
without an electrical grid connection. Addition of the hydrogen-based
power system is a retrofit. It will be possible to replicate this type
of home improvement anywhere."


Mr. Strizki adds, "When the house was built fourteen years ago, it
was designed to be energy efficient. But, no compromises were made to
limit modern conveniences. My house boasts a host of amenities not
normally seen in ecologically-sensitive homes, including a swimming
pool, hot tub, and flat-screen television."


Electrical energy generated by solar panels in amounts that exceed
immediate household requirements is used to convert water into
hydrogen. The hydrogen is stored until it is converted back into
electricity through a fuel cell when demand for power is greater than
the capacity of the solar panels can provide.  So, in effect, on
summer days the system collects hydrogen that is used on winter nights.



Hydrogen generated by the system will also be available for on-site
fueling of hydrogen powered vehicles as well as for a variety of uses
in the home such as generating hot water, powering appliances, and
cooking.


A HOGEN RE generator, manufactured by the Proton Energy Systems
subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp. (NASDAQ: DESC), is being

used to make the system's hydrogen. "This is exactly the kind of
groundbreaking project that demonstrates quite compellingly the
emerging practicality of renewable energy technology," said Rob
Friedland, Sr. Vice President for Proton's Hydrogen Technology Group.
"Our successful collaboration with Renewable Energy International,
Mike Strizki, Advanced Solar and the State of New Jersey enables us to
prove that generating hydrogen using Proton's PEM electrolysis
hydrogen generation can significantly reduce the production of
greenhouse gas emissions in real world applications."


The system also incorporates fuel cells manufactured by Plug Power,
battery banks manufactured by Exide Technologies, and direct coupling
lighting gateways manufactured by Nextek Power Systems. Invaluable
consulting services were provided by Bob Davidson of Davidson Code
Concepts.