Plug Power partners with National Grid for CHP field trial

Plug Power and National Grid, an international natural gas and electric utility, announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday to conduct the first field trial of Plug Power's new micro-CHP (combined heat and power) GenSys(r) fuel cell system. Fuelled by natural gas, the 5 kilowatt GenSys will provide electricity and high-quality heat to a National Grid customer in New York State.

As part of the competitively selected project, Plug Power will design, build, install and test the high-temperature GenSys unit. National Grid will facilitate site selection and installation and analyse the performance of the system, collecting critical data. Collaboratively, Plug Power and National Grid will determine system refinements for incorporation into the next-generation system design.

"This is a pivotal point in time for Plug Power, as we watch GenSys, the future of residential and light commercial CHP appliances, enter its first field trial under real-world working conditions," said Andy Marsh, president and CEO of Plug Power. "Plug Power has dedicated a decade to the development of its residential system. Our partnership with National Grid will help expedite commercialization, making 20%-40% reduction in home energy costs and 35% reduction in home carbon emissions obtainable for consumers."

Source: Fuel Cell Today