Condo dwellers to get energy-wise fuel cell system
(Phys.org) —Tokyo Gas and Panasonic are to start selling a unique home fuel-cell system for condos in Japan starting April 2014. This system involves a fuel-cell unit, hot-water storage unit and heat source equipment for backup purposes installed in the pipe shaft of a condominium. At the press conference where the system was announced, there was no manufacturer's suggested retail price offered, but the talk was about the system's features and benefits. This is the condo version of the now-famous Ene-Farm fuel cell that first went on sale in 2009. The design was modified in order to accommodate the requirements unique to installing such systems in condominiums. As such, this is another first in Japan's effort toward commercial fuel cell systems targeted at household heating and power generation. The unit now can be installed in the pipe shaft in the corridor of a condominium.