The Detroit Edison electrical engineer is one of the first homeowners in Michigan to test fuel cells as a power source for the home. The Detroit News. The Detroit News Plug Power technician Anthony D'Agostino, left, checks fuel cell meters with David Ellis, who volunteered to test the equipment at his Southfield home. Ellis is the first test case. Ellis' unit is enclosed in a small shed.
Power flows through a thick cable connecting it to the home.
We came out, visited him, saw that he had room for a shed and determined that, based on his interest and the fact that he was a trusted and valued employee, it made sense. There was no telling where the technology was going to go, but I decided I wanted to be in for the ride. Ellis' home still gets some power from the electric grid, but the fuel cell meets most of his needs. Ellis' fuel cell is about as big as two large refrigerators, a size Plug Power hopes to halve within the next two years. Both Edison and GE own minority stakes in Plug Power.