About the size of standard domestic washing machine, NetGen is smaller than the company’s other demonstration models and will be targeted specifically at the European domestic market, where fuel cells are gaining popularity, according to CFCL.

“The unit is designed to produce 1 kWe of electricity, which is sufficient for most domestic requirements,” CEO Brendan Dow said.

“It also recovers sufficient waste heat to supplement existing domestic hot water and central heating systems.”

Dow said the NetGen released low emissions and provided grid parallel power, which can be distributed to other users via the low voltage network. The unit can also be monitored and controlled remotely over the internet.

Adapted to run on different fuels, CFCL’s fuel cells convert natural gas to hydrogen, can use LPG and have the capacity to use renewable fuels such as ethanol and biogases.

The company said it was pursuing partnerships to integrate its fuel cell products into domestic appliances.