Ceres Power has installed an operational fuel cell CHP product in the family home of a British Gas customer in south east England. The field trial program will continue through 2011 and into 2012, with CHP products deployed in a variety of homes across the UK.

The first wave of fuel cell CHP products is being installed in consumers’ homes during the first quarter of 2011, with the second wave of products – incorporating valuable in-field experience – to follow six months later.

The final wave of at least 150 field trial CHP products will take place in 2012, to test Ceres’ ability to scale-up for initial product sales and volume launch with British Gas.

The fuel cell CHP products for the field trials are being manufactured using volume-capable processes. The solid oxide fuel cells at the heart of the product are being produced at the Ceres factory in Horsham, with CHP boiler assembly at the Daalderop factory in the Netherlands.