Toronto's ‘hydrogen village'

[jpak]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070526.wxhydrogenvillage26/BNStory/Front

Vancouver has its “hydrogen highway,” and Toronto is countering with the “hydrogen village,” although in fact there is neither a highway nor a village.

As part of the hydrogen village project, the Canadian National Exhibition will feature the “eco condo” – an environmentally friendly dwelling that will draw its electricity from hydrogen fuel cells that ultimately are powered by a wind turbine that is already providing electricity at the CNE grounds.

Adding to the “wow” factor, the project organizers will use four John Deere Gator hydrogen fuel cell utility vehicles as the immediate source of electricity for the condo; the Gators, in turn, will be fuelled by hydrogen manufactured on site at the base of the three-bladed, 750-kilowatt wind turbine.

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Among other end uses, the hydrogen from the “village” provides heat and power for 12 student townhouse units at the University of Toronto's Mississauga campus, fuels a Purolator delivery van, provides backup power for a Bell Canada switching station in Burlington, and powers Interlink Connectivity Inc., an Internet provider that cannot use a conventional power system because of its limited space in a Toronto high-rise.

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