Fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems and Ford Power Products have together developed and produced a genset driven by a hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engine. It is the first genset to be powered this way. Designated Ecostar, it will be the cleanest combustion-type generator on the market, according to its makers. Ballard and Ford believe that its environmental qualifications will give it the edge over diesels and small turbines in the peaking power market.
The unit produces 114 kVA at several voltages and is powered by a standard 6.8 litre Ford production engine modified for hydrogen fuel. Commercial production of the genset will begin later this year.
•Ballard is to build fuel cell power units aimed at the Japanese residential market. The company has signed a two year deal with Ebara Corp, with whom it already has a technology sharing agreement, and Osaka Gas to develop a 1kW cogeneration system for residential applications. The system will use Osaka Gas fuel processing technology married to Ballard's proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
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