EBARA BALLARD Unveils Engineering Prototype 1-kW Fuel
Cell Stationary Generator For Japanese Residential Market
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--FEBRUARY 22, 2001 - 08:04 EST
Ballard Power Systems announced today
that its associate company, EBARA BALLARD, unveiled an engineering
prototype one-kilowatt proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell
stationary generator for the Japanese residential market. The
natural gas-fuelled cogeneration unit is the product of a
collaboration involving Ballard subsidiary Ballard Generation
Systems (BGS), EBARA BALLARD, EBARA Corporation and Tokyo Gas.
"This fuel cell generator will provide electric power for Japanese
homes and apartments as well as heat for space heating and hot
water," said Jim Kirsch, President of Ballard Generation Systems.
"The performance of the prototype unit is testimony to the
effectiveness of our collaboration with EBARA and Tokyo Gas."
The unit comprises a BALLARD(R) fuel cell, Tokyo Gas technology in
a reformer made by EBARA BALLARD, and a water tank warmed with
heat from the fuel cell. Four prototype units built at EBARA
BALLARD's plant in Fujisawa, Japan, have been shipped to Tokyo Gas
and others in Japan for testing and demonstration.
The prototype generator reached DC gross electrical efficiency of
42 per cent (lower heating value "LHV"), and heat recovery
efficiency of 43 per cent (LHV) in in-house testing. EBARA BALLARD
is continuing to work to improve performance, reliability and to
reduce costs.
Tokyo Gas is the largest natural gas company in Japan both in
terms of the number of customers - over 8.5 million in total - and
gas sales volume. Founded in 1885, its service area now covers
3,129 square kilometres in the heart of the Kanto region, Tokyo
and neighbouring prefectures, the largest and most densely
populated region in Japan with a total of some 40 million people.
Tokyo Gas is conducting research and development in many areas
including cost reduction, safety enhancement and efficient
utilization of natural gas, and fuel-processing technologies.
EBARA BALLARD is a jointly held company of EBARA Corporation of
Japan and Ballard Generation Systems with a mandate to supply
Ballard Generation Systems fuel cell power generators
incorporating the BALLARD(R) fuel cell to customers in Japan.
EBARA Corporation is globally recognized as a major developer,
manufacturer and distributor of fluid machinery and systems,
precision machinery and environmental engineering systems and as a
leader in zero-emission energy technology.
Ballard Generation Systems was formed to commercialize PEM fuel
cell stationary power generators that use the BALLARD(R) fuel
cell. In addition to Ballard Power Systems, its shareholders
include GPU Inc. of New Jersey, ALSTOM France S.A., and Ebara
Corporation of Japan.
Ballard Power Systems is recognized as the world leader in
developing, manufacturing and marketing zero-emission proton
exchange membrane fuel cells for use in transportation,
electricity generation and portable power products. Ballard Power
Systems' proprietary fuel cell technology is enabling automobile,
electrical equipment and portable power product manufacturers to
develop environmentally clean products for sale. The fundamental
component of these end-user products is the BALLARD(R) fuel cell
that combines hydrogen (which can be obtained from methanol,
natural gas, petroleum or renewable sources) and oxygen (from air)
without combustion to generate electricity. Ballard is partnering
with strong, world-leading companies, including DaimlerChrysler,
Ford, GPU, ALSTOM and EBARA, to commercialize BALLARD(R) fuel
cells. Ballard has also supplied fuel cells to Honda, Nissan,
Volkswagen, Yamaha, Cinergy, Coleman Powermate and Matsushita
Electric Works, among others.
Ballard's Common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange
under the trading symbol "BLD" and on the Nasdaq National Market
System under the symbol "BLDP". Ballard and the Ballard logo are
registered trademarks of Ballard Power Systems Inc |
