The Pune- & Boston-based corporation Mayur REnergy Solutions have signed a contract with the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS, Germany with the aim of providing clean and green energy alternatives at an affordable cost. They want to develop solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) products for markets in developing countries.
According to the partners, their main goal is the development of a fuel cell product at local prices which will help to solve the electricity situation in India. Dr. Christian Wunderlich, department head at Fraunhofer IKTS, points out in establishing a decentralized electricity generation network in places where it is mostly missed right now. Envisioned is a micro power plant which will be installed in every house. As part of this promising project Fraunhofer IKTS develops prototypes based on the established eneramic fuel cell system, which will be extended for higher power classes.
The SOFC technology enables systems with very high efficiencies either as pure electricity generator or as combined heat, power and cooling application by using hydrocarbons like pipeline natural gas or LPG (liquified petroleum gas). Mayur’s vision is to combine solar, wind, biogas and fuel cell technologies to provide energy independence to rural India and thus bringing prosperity and stability to the rural economy, the company said.
Fraunhofer IKTS will develop first prototypes until 2014 and transfer the know-how to Mayur, who in turn will work on commercializing the technology.
