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Hydrogen in every home

How the Japanese are trying to slash energy use and CO₂ emissions—by installing fuel cells in people’s backyards.

Despite these drawbacks, the system has allowed the family to dramatically, and effortlessly, reduce energy consumption. Generating electricity on site boosts the efficiency of home CHP systems an additional 10 percent or so, since no electricity is lost on the way from the power plant to the home. After all, the power plant is right outside. Tokyo Gas estimates that compared to standard gas boilers and electricity from the grid, their 1 kW systems use 26 percent less primary energy and emit 40 percent less carbon dioxide—a savings equivalent to driving 3,735 miles (6,000 kilometers) less each year. “It’s easy to see we’re doing something good for the environment,” says Shogo. “It’s fun to see how much energy we’re saving. I think this technology is going to be great for the future.”

Vanderbilt University’s Pintauro, who’s researching ways to make fuel cells even more efficient, points out that the advantages of decentralized energy generation go beyond lower emissions. “There is more and more resistance to power lines in your backyard,” he says. “What’s nice is most homes have access to natural gas. The infrastructure exists. It’s quite easy to put a cogeneration fuel cell in homes.” The systems also tend to be a more reliable source of electricity than the conventional grid, since gas lines rarely go down.

But for Kumiko Kawamori, the biggest benefit has been a small monitor on her kitchen wall that came with the system. “You can see how much electricity you’re using and how much is being produced” by the fuel cell, she says, demonstrating by switching on the microwave; after a few seconds, the number on the monitor jumps from .5 to 1.7 kW. Kawamori says she’s noticed that the air-conditioners and, surprisingly, the vacuum cleaner are also big electricity users. “I thought, ‘Oh wow, I’m using so much energy!’” she says. “It was something that until then I had been totally unconcerned with.”

Fuel cell cogeneration systems could reach as many as 1.8 billion homes per year, says a spokesperson at Canadian fuel cell maker Ballard Power Systems, which supplies some of the Japanese CHP units (see the next page). The main obstacle to that goal, experts agree, is cost. Manufacturers say families can expect to save $500 to $800 per year on energy bills, but the appliance itself is projected to cost about $10,000, though this will vary by manufacturer. Even given a 10-year lifetime for the unit, the upfront cost wipes out any savings in monthly bills. Manufacturers are working to improve the lifetime, but until a large-scale, competitive manufacturing infrastructure is in place, prices will likely stay high. Government support may be one way to bridge that gap. The appliance in the Kawamoris’ yard was paid for largely by government subsidies; Japan’s 2009 budget for fuel cells is $426 million.

Meanwhile, home fuel cell cogeneration systems are helping establish the technology, manufacturing infrastructure and public awareness essential for the hydrogen economy to become viable. The Kawamoris, and the thousands of other households involved in the trials, are sharing their experiences with their family and friends, and as they do, interest in hydrogen power spreads. “Friends often come to our house, and they ask about the fuel cell, so I explain how it works,” Kumiko says. “People in this neighborhood are finally, little by little, becoming aware of environmental issues.”

It “gets people thinking about generating energy in their own homes,” says the National Renewable Energy Lab’s Turner. “You have a mini power plant in your basement—‘Hey look, I’m generating energy right here!’ The next step is, ‘Well, gosh, I’ll put [solar] panels on my roof, get an electrolyzer and I’m doing everything at home!’” He’s convinced that given the political will to make the transition, a sustainable energy system built on hydrogen is within reach. “We have the technology. We can do this. If we start down this road, we cannot fail.”

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