Ceramic Fuel Cells’ local partner in California, Smart Hybrid Systems Inc, will provide local installation and support services, including integrating the BlueGen fuel cell unit with thermal and electrical management systems as well as metering equipment.

Smart Hybrid Systems, which manufactures energy appliances, also plans to develop innovative hybrid fuel cell and energy storage products utilizing the CFCL solid oxide fuel cell as the core generator of electricity and heat.

The compact BlueGen system – designed for use in homes and other buildings – uses patented solid oxide fuel cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity and heat with very high efficiency. BlueGen units can generate electricity at a peak electrical efficiency of 60%, far higher than any other technology in the large global market for small-scale electricity generation. When heat is recovered for hot water, total efficiency is up to 85%.

‘Together with our existing sales in Europe, Japan and Australia, this sends a strong message about the size of the global markets that Ceramic Fuel Cells is targeting,’ comments Brendan Dow, Managing Director of Ceramic Fuel Cells. ‘It is exciting for us that large utilities, not only in the USA but throughout the western world, are investing seriously in low-emission power generation.’

Since late 2009 Ceramic Fuel Cells has secured orders for 50 BlueGen units from other major utilities and foundation customers in Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, the UK, Japan and Australia, including E.ON Ruhrgas in Germany, the German Gas Association, and Osaka Gas in Japan.