Ballard, Ebara

One plant demonstration, which began operation in August 1997, has been completed. The plant achieved an electric efficiency of 40% LHV. Ballard is in the process of securing plant orders to field test additional plants. Ballard expects field trials from 1998 to 2001 and commercial production of the plant with the characteristics listed above in 2002. Partners are GPU International, GEC Alsthom, and EBARA Corporation (15). 

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ebara-Ballard Co. 

EBARA BALLARD Ballard Power Systems Corp. 

The company is partnering Ebara-Ballard with the commercialisation of its 1 kW domestic PEFC, and has developed a desulphuriser in a transparent container. The reagent changes colour as it is used, so that the user can install fresh reagent in due time (see the web site). 

The Japanese government is especially active in promoting the use of small, 1 kW, stationary fuel cell systems. In 2005 The New Energy Foundation (NEF) announced a goal of installing 400 units with subsidies of up to 6 million yen per unit (60-75% of the total cost). In 2006 and 2007, the program plans to install 1000 and 5000 units, respectively, with NEF subsidies of up to 3 million yen in 2006 and 2 million yen in 2007. Costs were expected to fall below 1 million yen by the end of the 3-year program. Initially, seven Japanese corporations, mostly utUity companies, were slated to receive the subsidies with fuel cells provided by Ebara Ballard and Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems (Adamson 2005). 

In addition to the kerosene-fueled prototype, Nippon Oil has developed a 1 kW LPG-fueled system, the Eneos Eco-LP-1, which uses Ebara Ballard fuel cell stacks. According to Nippon Oil, more than 300 orders have been placed for the units, which are installed for free, although residential users are charged 60 000 Yen (approximately 522) per year to rent the unit. Nippon Oil also is working in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to enter the large stationary commercial applications market with the development of a 10 kW kerosene-fueled system (Adamson 2005). 

Ballard Power Systems (2005). Ballard Announces US 30 Million Transaction with EBARA and EBARA BALLARD for Next Phase of Cogeneration Commercialization. Ballard Power Systems Inc. 

Ebara Ballard (2004). IkW Cogeneration System Using Kerosene Fuel for the Japanese Residential Market Completed the Prototype Unit and Started Its Verification Test. Ebara Ballard Corporation, Ebara Corporation, Nippon Oil. Japan. Available at http //www.ebara.co.jp. 

Distributed power generation - Several companies are working on development of small (1-lOkW) fuel cell power systems intended to be used in homes. Some of them are combined with boilers to provide both electricity and heat (Plug Power with Vaillant and Ballard with Ebara) [1]. 

Canada Canada has focused primarily on PEFC research and development over the last decade. To commercialize its PEFC technology, Ballard Power Systems has developed a major international network of strategic partners, including DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, GPU international (US), Alstom SA (a UK company based in France), and Ebara Corporation (Japan). Ballard 250 kWe stationary prototypes are developed by Ballard Generation Systems. The first prototype operating is in Vancouver, Canada. Ballard delivered a second 250-kilowatt PEFC power system to Cinergy Technology. This is the first field trial unit built by Ballard. The... 

The Japanese company Ebara Ballard, a subsidiary of the well-known Canadian company Ballard, is the most important maker of PEMFCs. They developed a 1-kW power plant for combined heat and power production. It is remarkable that this unit is designed to be operated for a period of 10 years, in accord with requirements set by the Japanese government. A similar unit also designed for an operating time of 10 years was developed by the Japanese company Fuji Electric. TTiese units cost 12,000 to 16,000 (Adamson, 2006). 

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