Our Part B project has entailed a systematic review of the technical, environmental and economic requirements to power an electrical load for an autonomous dwelling for each of three specified locations (Glasgow in Scotland, Catania in southern Italy and Phoenix in the Arizona Desert, USA). Our technical appraisal has concluded that the system is feasible in all 3 localities. The variable factors are the area of PV array, the hydrogen storage requirement, the inverter ratings and the fuel cell rating.

Climatic Conditions	Technical	Environmental	Economic
Scotland
Desert
Mediterranean

Ultimately the economic feasibility is dependent on the specific location for the reasons outlined below and in the economics section on these pages.

The results of our environmental impact analysis are particularly significant, as we have concluded the system has a minimal environmental impact in the major stages of the system component's life cycle; manufacture, operation and decommissioning. This study has also reiterated the increasing role of hydrogen as a future fuel as it is produced from an abundant natural resource - water. Therefore, our fuel is inexhaustible and environmentally benign.

The findings of our economic analysis are inherently more complex. Under present economic conditions for the 3 climatic conditions, the system is not feasible in locations where grid connections are viable (such as urban and suburban areas). On a more positive note, however, the system may be feasible in some rural or isolated locations where a grid connection is not viable. This is ultimately dependent on the specific location of the individual dwelling.

In summation, as we enter the new millennium, there is a growing recognition that the environmental and ecological balance of the planet is no longer sustainable. We are living through massive environmental change as the pace of environmental degradation accelerates. The depletion of the world's natural resources that we are so heavily dependent upon, twinned with the volatility of the world energy market mean prospects for world-wide deployment of domestic PV/fuel cell systems look encouraging.

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