IdaTech Corp. (Bend, OR) announced that it has shipped its first two pre-production FCS 1200™ fuel cell systems to European utility, Electricite de France (EDF), for integration with solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in a hybrid power system for remote locations. EDF will be installing, testing and evaluating the hybrid solution throughout 2003.
The FCS 1200™ is a portable, 1.2kW proton-exchange membrane fuel cell system that incorporates IdaTech's FPM 20™ fuel processor module, a Ballard Nexa™ power module, a fuel tank, complete balance-of-plant, remote communications capability and an optional inverter, in a compact package. Integrated with PV panels and battery bank, the hybrid power system will provide power to remote locations not connected to the grid. The fuel cell system will act as a backup and primary power source, charging the batteries when sunlight is not adequate for the PV panels to generate electricity.
