In a dramatic step toward the development of a whole new way ofgenerating electricity, Plug Power demonstrated today the firstresidential fuel cell to successfully power a home.

The Plug Power 7000, a prototype residential power generationsystem was unveiled before a gathering of government energyofficials and utility representatives. The demonstration marked thefirst time a fuel cell has been used to provide a home’s completeelectricity. Among the items in the home powered by the fuel cellare a refrigerator, air conditioner, dishwasher, oven, television,VCR, microwave, other small appliances and lighting.

“The introduction of residential fuel cells will forever changethe way we think about buying and generating power,” said GaryMittleman, president of Plug Power. The company, whose work onautomotive fuel cells has received national attention, is a jointventure between DTE Energy of Detroit, Michigan’s largest electricutility, and Mechanical Technology, Inc. (MTI), a pioneer developerof fuel cells.

Plug Power expects to introduce a commercial system for homepower generation by the year 2000. While the prototype unitunveiled today was hydrogen-based, commercial units will run onnatural gas, propane or methanol.

“For the first time, electric consumers will have a truealternative-and will begin to enjoy immediate cost savings,”Mittleman added. Home fuel cell systems are expected to reducecurrent electric rates by approximately 20% upon theirintroduction, due primarily to lower operating costs and higherefficiencies.

Fuel cells use an electrochemical process that produces nonitrogen or sulfur oxides, known for producing acid rain. Inaddition, the excess heat that is generated from the process can becaptured and re-used for both hot water and winter home heating.

“The Department of Energy is proud of our role in achieving thismilestone. New technologies like this residential fuel cell showthat a prosperous economy goes hand-in-hand with a clean, healthyenvironment,” said Secretary of Energy Federico Pena. TheDepartment has provided critical technical and financial supportfor Plug Power’s overall fuel cell development efforts.

“Fuel cells are orders of magnitude cleaner than traditionalfossil fuel plants,” said Nathanael Greene, an energy policyanalyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “And becausethey’re more efficient than central generation, they’ll help fightglobal warming. The promise of fuel cells is cleaner and cheaperpower, and we’re starting to see it become a reality.”

“Whenever you put the source of power closer to its recipient,energy losses are minimized,” Mittleman added. “Approximately 7 to8% of the power generated at a utility plant today is lost in thelines that connect the plant to the house. Distributed generationreduces the need for electric lines, and lets us make better use ofthe ones we have.”

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