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Federal and State tax incentives also encourage consumers to consider
options such as fuel cells. At this time, $28 million have been committed
to Southern California Edison in the program budget (Self Generation In-
centive Program - SGIP), and $55 million has also been allotted for other
California energy companies, such as PG&E, So Cal Gas, and SDG&E, to
offer incentives for alternative energy use. The Database of State Incentives
for Renewables and Efficiency confirms that California offers $2.50/W to
$4.50/W, depending on the fuel source. The natural gas fuel cell would
receive the $2.50 incentive, a $12,500 rebate from the State for a 5kw
system, since it is run on a non-renewable resource. If the fuel source were
pure hydrogen – a renewable resource – the rebate would be $22,500 for
a 5kW system. The Federal Government offers a 10% rebate on residential
purchases and a 30% rebate on commercial purchases. Businesses can
also take advantage of accelerated depreciation benefits.
“ClearEdge Power is currently working to educate people in California
about fuel cells as an option for residential and commercial heat and
power,” says Sproull. “We are actively speaking with architects, builders,
business owners, and homeowners throughout the state.”
Automobiles
The automobile industry has embraced the fuel cell and extolled its
low emissions. Many of the major manufacturers of automobiles are
pursuing fuel cell or hybrid fuel cell-electric vehicle production and
marketing. By early 2010, California consumers could see the Chevy
Equinox, Daimler F–Cell, Honda FCX Clarity, Volkswagen Passat Lingyu,
or the Toyota Highlander fuel cell vehicles on the market. The Toyota
Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid vehicle recently drove 431 miles on a single
fill of compressed hydrogen gas, averaging 68.3 miles/kg (approximate
mpg equivalent). The Honda FCX Clarity offers 189 lbs. of torque and a
max speed of 100mph. According to the California Fuel Cell Partnership
(CAFCP), these fuel cell vehicles are roughly twice as efficient as gaso-
line combustion engines and 40% more efficient than hybrids.
Fuel cell vehicles using natural gas reduce vehicle emissions by 50%,
and fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen produced by other means (bio-
mass or solar electrolysis) eliminate emissions. CAFCP also claims that
if the U.S. converts entirely to fuel cell vehicles, “gasoline consumption
decreases by almost 70 percent.” The hydrogen suppliers are ready.
The CAFCP plans to create 46 retail hydrogen fuel-
ing stations in six California communities. Once the
infrastructure is established, the transition to fuel cell
vehicles will be more viable.
Gill’s Onions and the Future
of Fuel Cell Technology
In Oxnard, CA, Gill’s Onions takes fuel cell efficiency and ingenuity
to a new level. According to its website, Gill’s Onions, the “largest fresh
onion processing plant in the world,” produces 1.5 million pounds of
onion waste per week. Gill’s Onions then converts all the process waste
(biogas) into “ultra-clean” renewable energy for a fuel cell. The onion
plant produces roughly 665kW: enough energy to power itself and 460
homes annually.
Using biogas is a renewable method of energy production, while natu-
ral gas is considered a sustainable method, since natural gas is a fossil
fuel and not a renewable resource. However, natural gas fuel cells still
fall under the Federal and State incentive programs as renewable energy
producers. Sproull states that ClearEdge has also begun researching the
use of landfill gas (biogas and methane streams) to power future fuel
cells, which, according to Sproull, will be available in 2kW and 10 kW
options within the next few years.
Whether stationary, mobile, or portable, the fuel cell is rapidly spread-
ing to markets around the world. The German scientist, Christian Schon-
bein, credited with discovering the properties of a fuel cell in 1838, and
Sir William Grove, who developed the first fuel cell in 1842, would likely
be interested to learn of the many advances and applications – belated
though they be – of fuel cell technology. So would Sir Francis Bacon,
whose extensive work with fuel cells was eventually licensed by Pratt
& Whitney to power the Apollo spacecraft. As the demand for heat and
power increases with population growth, technologies such as fuel cells
will become the norm. The meter reader of tomorrow will likely be more
surprised if a home actually uses electricity rather than produces it as
more and more homes become power plants.
Practical Power
The stationary fuel cell can be installed
close to the hot water heater or pool
equipment to reduce retrofitting costs and
to maximize heat collection efficiency