There is a great increase in the number of installations of the household-use fuel cell “ENE-FARM” which supplies electricity and heat (hot water) using LPG or town gas as fuel. The substantial increase is attributed to the enhanced energy security after the Earthquake and the growing awareness of electricity conservation.

As counted by Fuel Cell Association, the number of application for the subsidy to support the introduction of household-use fuel cells in 2011 increased to 12,437 based on acceptance until December 27, 2011, which was 2.5 times up, compared with the year-earlier period.

A fuel cell is a cogeneration device to generate electricity and heat through the reaction of oxygen in the air with hydrogen which is taken out by reforming town gas or LPG. The application of the device to automobiles has already been underway.

In Japan the fuel cell has started to be applied to the generation of electricity for household use and business operation. Targeting general detached houses, commercialization of 1kW-output fuel cells started in the domestic market in 2009 ahead of other countries in the world. In order to promote diffusion of household-use fuel cells, the industry has been carrying out its PR activities with an integrated naming of “ENE-FARM” for common use.

As the device generates electric power and heat simultaneously, it has a characteristic to bring about a higher use efficiency of the primary energy, and also attracts attention as a dispersed type of electricity generator from the viewpoint of energy security. The government subsidy system has also been consolidated for promotion of more installations, and there is a system now that half of the cost for equipment and installation is subsidized up to 1.05 million yen at maximum.

Compared with 5,030 cells in the initial year of 2009 and 4,985 cells in 2010 (both figures based on the number of application for subsidy), the number attained in 2011 shows a great jump of expansion. It seems to have been supported by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the consequent growing consciousness to save electricity.