Home fuel cells are installated alongside grid to consistently produce the exact amount of electricity and heat needed.
Therefore, they are typically not a standalone installation, but are rather combined with a traditional furnace and connected to the grid for electricity needs above or below that produced by the fuel cell.
The high efficiency of home fuel cells has caused some countries, such as Germany, to economically support their installation as part of a policy reacting to climate change.
Twenty companies have installed Bloom Energy fuel cells in their buildings, including Google, eBay, and FedEx.
[4] Oregon-based ClearEdge Power had until 2014 installed 5 kW systems at the homes of Jackie Autry,[5] Bay Area Wealth Manager Bruce Raabe[6] and VC investor Gary Dillabough.
Operating costs for home fuel cells can be as low as 6.0¢ per kWh based on $1.20 per therm for natural gas, assuming full electrical and heat load utilization.[where?
][citation needed] Residential fuel cells can have high initial capital costs – As of December 2012, Panasonic and Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. sold about 21,000 PEM Eni-Farm units in Japan for a price of $22,600 before installation.
[10] In the U.S.A., home fuel cells are eligible for substantial incentives and rebates at both the state and federal levels as a part of renewable energy policy.
[11] In addition, home fuel cells receive net metering credit in many service areas for any excess electricity generated but not used by putting it back on the utility grid.