Let's see now, Plug Power's Home Gen 7000, which looks just like a residential air conditioner is slated to cost between $5000 and $7000. So many people could easily pay for the whole system with a single year's worth of electric bill savings.
Just furthering the discussion, it's worth noting some qualifiers. I believe long term in these systems; many many advantages. It's just, like many things, it's not a smooth road from here to there.
Payback
Fuel cells create power by consuming fuel, so you have to factor the cost of fuel into your payback period. Don't know what this would be; I don't immediately see an indication of consumption rate/kwH on their site. If the fuel is NG, that's in a price squeeze already without added consumption, no?
What's the system life of an FC; as an owner how much would I have to factor in for replacement?
With any critical system you need to have an immediate response support contract so that in the event of a problem with your FC you don't end up with no power at all for long periods. Will require immense support infrastructure and you have to factor such a contract into the cost of your fuel cell. With computer servers you typically look at 15-18% of capital cost per year; though I wouldn't extend this directly, it may give some idea of the cost of critical level support on other types of systems?
Your year payback was based on the peak elec costs, but should be of course on an average in a year. The point is still very strong, of course, because I'd think a two-year payback would still be very attractive (though for early adopters it would have to be very quick, as capital costs and technologies would I imagine change very quickly in the early stages of adoption)
Distribution
Natural gas, propane or methanol fuels need a distribution network to make this work. Many homes have NG, but still many millions don't. If it's not pipes to the home they need to build a really big home tank-and-truck distribution, and that distribution network, regardless of what it looks like, has to be factored into the costs as well.
Notwithstanding, I'm sure these or similar arguments would be thrown up against the coming of electricity if we were just looking at that right now <gg>. Problems get beat if there's the will and the need. As I say, I only raise them as illustration of some of the significant issues that will have to be resolved.
Thanks for your FC overview.
Regards
WUWT |
