RNS Number : 0353G
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited
25 June 2012
Monday 25 June 2012
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM / ASX: CFU), a leading provider of high efficiency and low emission electricity generation products for homes and other buildings, is pleased to announce that Crest Nicholson, one of the UK's leading house builders, has installed a BlueGen gas-to-electricity generator in one of its low carbon homes.
The BlueGen unit is installed in a four bedroom family home in Crest Nicholson's Noble Park development on the outskirts of Epsom, Surrey. This is the UK's first ever installation of a microgeneration certificate scheme (MCS) accredited micro power and heat fuel cell in a new build home, providing power, heating and hot water.
The Crest Nicholson low carbon home demonstrates how new houses can meet the energy efficiency levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, cutting carbon emissions by 44 percent from 2006 Part L Building Regulations levels. In 2016 this requirement for all homes sent to planning increases to "zero carbon", meaning the building fabric of the home and onsite power and heat generation must cut emissions by at least 70 percent from 2006 levels, equivalent to zero net carbon emissions from regulated energy, which is that used for heating, hot water, lighting and building (services) consumption, over the course of a year.
In addition to the energy reduction requirements, the Crest Nicholson home with the BlueGen unit meets all the elements of the 2010 Code for Sustainable Homes level 4, which include design for low water consumption, enhanced ecological protection, Lifetime Homes and Secure by Design criteria.
As part of the AIMC4 Consortium research project, Crest Nicholson has designed the home for high insulation and energy efficiency and low heat losses. The BlueGen is providing all the heat needed for the home - there is no separate boiler or other heating device needed.
The BlueGen product is the only fuel cell product eligible for the UK Feed-In Tariff (FIT), which provides a payment to BlueGen customers for power generated on-site and exported back to the power grid.
BlueGen units use ceramic fuel cells to turn natural gas into electricity - as well as heat for hot water - for homes, schools, offices and small commercial buildings. Each BlueGen unit can save up to four tonnes of carbon per year in low carbon homes. The peak electrical efficiency of BlueGen is up to 60 percent, far higher than any other small scale generating technology in the world. With the added benefit of heat, total efficiency is up to 85 percent and may be even higher in such low energy homes.
The Noble Park homes are being delivered by the "AIMC4" consortium, supported by funding from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board. The AIMC4 consortium is a partnership of UK companies created to pioneer the volume production of low carbon homes, and includes developers Stewart Milne Group, Crest Nicholson PLC,Barratt Developments PLC, H+H UK Ltd and the Building Research Establishment.
Crest Nicholson is one of the UK's leading developers of new homes, building approximately 1,500 new homes each year.
Brendan Dow, Managing Director, Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited, said:
"BlueGen is an advanced technology that is available today. With its high levels of energy efficiency BlueGen provides a clear pathway towards the UK Government's 2016 residential sector targets for all new build houses to be "zero carbon". Demonstrating that BlueGen can provide all the heating for a new home opens up a large market for us, and means BlueGen is not restricted to the market for replacement boilers.
"Crest Nicholson is an exciting partner for Ceramic Fuel Cells and we look forward to sharing a close working relationship as we explore the potential for installing additional BlueGen units at other Crest Nicholson new home developments."
Stephen Stone, Chief Executive, Crest Nicholson, said:
"This is a real first for the UK in terms of introducing fuel cell technology into new homes, and the fact that the technology is now at a point where people can effectively use it in their living environment is something that will bring real consumer benefits.
"The technology works best in energy efficient homes that require very low levels of heating, and this is exactly the case with the AIMC4 homes at Epsom. Not only that, but as part of this pioneering project we will also be carrying out an intensive programme of post-occupancy evaluation, which will provide solid data to help us understand how our customers react to the benefits of fuel cell technology.
"It is a real priority for us to continue to drive Innovation in the delivery of sustainable communities, and we hope that the technology we have installed at Epsom will, through collaboration, lead to volume supply that will ultimately bring down costs and provide an exciting approach to delivering the Government's 2016 zero carbon timeline ambitions."
ENDS
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