Plug Power has announced that it has successfully tested a natural-gas based proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell at its New York facility. The residential-size system produced over 4 kW.
Plug Power, a joint venture between DTE Energy Company and Mechanical Technology Inc, says operation of a complete system on natural gas is an important step towards bringing its “residential units to market in 2001.” The 70 million homes in the USA already using gas for cooking and heat “will eventually be able to use natural gas-powered fuel cells to meet all their energy needs,”says Plug Power.
Plug Power is near to finalising its joint venture with GE to market fuel cells internationally.