The new product “ENE-FARM†for domestic fuel cells for single-family homes developed jointly by Tokyo Gas and Panasonic will be launched on April 1, 2015. The suggested retail price is 1.6 million yen (excluding tax and construction costs), which is 300,000 yen less than the existing product launched in 2013.
After the suggested retail price fell to 1.6 million yen, plus various subsidies, the actual sales price was close to 1 million yen. Since the new product can reduce the lighting heating cost of the household by approximately 60,000 yen per year, it will reduce 600,000 yen in total in the 10 years when the "ENE-FARM Comprehensive Comfort Support" service is applied. Taking into account the remaining commitments and the existing gas water heater price difference and environmental load and other factors, consumers should choose to buy fuel cells.
Contributing to the reduction in prices are (1) reduction in the number of parts by approximately 15%, and (2) the reduction in the use of precious metals.
The reduction in the number of parts is achieved through the integration of parts and the like. For example, a heat exchanger that recovers heat from a fuel cell stack and a heat exchanger that recovers heat from a fuel processor are integrated into one. In addition, through the integration of electronic components, the number of power supply and control printed circuit boards has been reduced by half. Although there are components that increase in cost after integration, the overall cost is reduced in terms of the number of piping, joints, cables, etc. required for installation, and the operating time.
In addition to component integration, the number of components was also reduced by adjusting the start stop sequence. The number of cleaning valves, piping, and connectors can be reduced by adjusting the start-stop sequence and simplifying the process of cleaning the protective catalyst.
In reducing the amount of precious metals used, the catalyst platinum (Pt) used in fuel cell units was cut by about 20%. From the perspective of catalyst technology, the reduction in platinum usage is approaching its limit. Therefore, this time, the current loss of the fuel cell unit is mainly reduced, and the current density is increased, thereby realizing reduction of the amount of platinum. For example, the current loss is reduced by improving the GDL (gas diffusion layer) thickness or the like that diffuses hydrogen and oxygen to the electrode catalyst as a whole.
In addition, the amount of precious metal used in the fuel processor is also reduced. Specifically, the amount of desulfurizing agent using silver (Ag) is reduced, and the proportion of desulfurizing agent and activated carbon using copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and the like is increased. As a result, the precious metal cost of the fuel processor is reduced by about 20%.
Or can realize the price of 700,000 yen
The goal of the fuel cell industry is to reduce the actual sales price to more than 700,000 yen after the end of 2015 subsidy system. In this case, the price will be lower than the sum of the lighting heating cost reduction effect plus the price of the gas water heater, and "there is no need for publicity to sell it" (gas company).
In order to achieve this goal, the proposed retail price of the fuel cell in 2009 was 3.3 million yen, the amount in 2011 fell to 2.63 million yen, and the money in 2013 fell to 1.9 million yen, and the 2015 version dropped to 160 yen. Ten thousand yen. However, the price reduction rate for the 2015 model was only about 15%, which was a drop from the previous 20% or more.
In response, Matsushita stated that "the fuel cell itself has a limited space for cost reduction." Therefore, this time while reducing the price of fuel cells, it has also made improvements to reduce construction costs. For example, the height can be reduced by 10cm. It can also be transported using light trucks. It is easier to set up by using an external heat source. Panasonic said, "In the future, first, we will implement real sales prices of less than 1 million yen without subsidies."
Panasonic is also concerned about the trend of power liberalization. After the realization of power liberalization, it may be recognized that electricity generated by the fuel cell will be sold to the grid.
After solving problems such as the cost of power consignment, the surplus power can be sold while running, to maximize the efficiency of the fuel cell, or to start the fuel cell supply of each home when the grid power is insufficient. If you can improve the value of fuel cells like this, you should promote the popularization of products. (Reporter: He Jiji)
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