Simulation of Operation, Energy Savings, and CO2 Balance of a Domestic Fuel Cell Energy Center

System simulations are performed in order to calculate the economic efficiency of a PEM fuel cell system. The simulation model is developed using the well-established MATLAB/Simulink platform. The major input parameters are measured data for the heat and power consumption of a detached house with a conventional heating system and Fuel Cell Energy Center design parameters. The simulation compares the house with a conventional heating system with electrical power supplied by the grid to the same house with a cogeneration fuel cell heating system. The natural gas consumption and the electrical power consumption of the house are analyzed for both systems. Furthermore, the reduction in the CO2 emissions is calculated. Calculations are made for summer, winter, autumn, and spring, to investigate the influence of the seasons.