Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (MEI, Japan) and Ebara Corp. unveiled a new fuel cell power generation system at the newly built residence of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The eco-friendly system, made up of two units, can generate a total of 2 kW of electricity, and at the same time serve as boilers while limiting its carbon-dioxide emissions.
In the system, electricity is generated through chemical reactions of hydrogen taken from home gas and oxygen from the air, with heat produced through the reactions. Both units have a tank capable of holding 200 L of water at 60 °C. Tokyo Gas Co. supplies gas fuel to the units, and has been accepting applications for the fuel cell systems from ordinary household users since February. It plans to install 200 units of the new system within its supply area by next March.
