Morphic Technologies’ subsidiary Cell Impact has received a test order from an Asian manufacturer of high-temperature fuel cells. The flow plates will be used in a stationary fuel cell system intended for households and small enterprises. The system primarily uses gas from existing town gas grids, converting it into electrical energy. The excess heat generated by the process is used for central heating and hot water. The new order is worth SEK 550,000 and delivery is scheduled for September 2007.
The fuel cell market is continuing to advance at a rapid pace. The most advanced fuel cells are currently used in stationary power stations intended for residential and industrial use. The benefits include a high level of efficiency and reliability as well as minimal environmental impact, since the only by-product is pure water.
These applications primarily involve the use of SOFC-type high-temperature fuel cells. A combined heat and power (CHP) system makes use of the heat generated in converting hydrogen into electricity to heat a building and produce hot water. In densely built areas with an extensive gas grid the existing gas can be used in the system, where it is converted into hydrogen. Trials have been carried out for some time now in several Asian cities and indicate that CHP systems can lower household electricity consumption while reducing the overall energy cost.
“Combined heat and power offers considerable potential and is expected to expand very rapidly in the next few years, since existing infrastructure can be used to distribute the gas. A number of manufacturers are now very close to commercializing their products, and we have established contacts with several of these”, Martin Valfridsson, Managing Director of Cell Impact AB, says.