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CFCL selects UK partner for m-CHP project
NEWS
Plug’s GenCore power for police radio tower
I
n the US, Plug Power has installed two GenCore fuel cell systems to provide backup power for a New York State Police radio tower in eastern Rensselaer County. Installed in tandem, the two GenCore units can provide a combined maximum of 10 kW of electric power. The emergency response radio tower requires approximately 7.5 kW. In addition, each fuel cell system has enough stored hydrogen to provide backup power for 72 h without being refueled. At the Grafton tower, which is on the outer reaches of the statewide network, Plug Power’s fuel cell systems will provide the extended run-time needed for continuity of operations during a lengthy grid outage. The continuous availability of the radio system is considered critical to ensuring that the police are able to respond effectively to emergencies and ensure public safety. The Grafton systems are the last of 22 installations funded by the New York Power Authority as part of a program to deploy fuel cells for backup power at public safety communications facilities across New York state. The GenCore product line includes backup power products for the telecoms, uninterruptible power supply and electric utility markets. The hydrogen-fueled GenCore 5 kW backup fuel cell system is available in seven configurations to serve the broad requirements of these diverse applications. Contact: Plug Power Inc, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
CFCL selects UK partner for m-CHP project
A
ustralian-based SOFC developer Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd (CFCL) has selected Gledhill Water Storage Ltd as its UK appliance partner, to join the project announced in July 2007 with E.ON UK that aims to develop and deploy 1 kW micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP) units for the UK market. The three companies will work together to develop a fully integrated m-CHP unit for the residential market that incorporates CFCL’s solid oxide fuel cells. These highly efficient units are designed to power homes while reducing carbon emissions. 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
CFCL is supplying a NetGen+ unit that will operate with a boiler and a specially designed thermal store to produce an ‘alpha’ prototype. This will then be deployed in a field trial. The NetGen+ unit is scheduled to be delivered by December 2007, and the prototype unit will be developed during the second quarter of 2008. Mark Foster, managing director of Gledhill Water Storage, says that the company’s selection as a partner recognizes the key role of intelligent thermal storage systems in maximizing the performance of alternative energy sources. ‘This agreement completes our initial partnering objectives in Europe, with four utility and four appliance partners in place across four key markets,’ says Brendan Dow, managing director of CFCL. Contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Noble Park, Victoria, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9554 2300, www.cfcl.com.au Or contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells (Europe) Ltd, Chester, UK. Tel: +44 1244 893781, Email: [email protected] Or contact: Gledhill Water Storage Ltd, Blackpool, UK. Tel: +44 8449 310000, www.gledhill.net
More Acumentrics remote power for park
M
assachusetts-based Acumentrics has installed a 5 kW solid oxide fuel cell system at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, midway between Cleveland and Akron in Ohio. The system is the company’s second to be installed in Cuyahoga, and makes the park’s environmental education facility ‘grid-independent’ and able to operate even when there is a power failure. The system is sponsored by the Department of Defense, National Park Service, Electric Power Research Institute and by First Energy, the local electric utility in the Cuyahoga area. The park links the urban centers of Cleveland and Akron, preserving the rural character of the Cuyahoga River Valley. ‘The installation of a second system at an existing customer site confirms the value proposition that SOFC units can be depended on in remote and sensitive locations,’ says Gary Simon, CEO of Acumentrics. ‘Parks are environmentally sensitive areas, where an extra premium is placed on the clean and efficient power that SOFCs provide.’ The firm says that its SOFCs can directly use hydrocarbon fuels at very high efficiencies, and also operate on clean fuels such as hydrogen. The system at Cuyahoga will be run on natural gas to provide heat and power to the facility.
Contact: Acumentrics Corporation, Westwood, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 781 461 8251, www.acumentrics.com
large stationary
UTC fuel cells provide power for technology community store
I
n Connecticut, the new Cabela’s store at Rentschler Field in East Hartford will receive approximately two-thirds of the power it requires from four fuel cells, supplied by nearby UTC Power, which are to be installed on the site. ‘Compared with conventional power generating sources, these four UTC Power fuel cells will reduce the development’s carbon footprint by about 1800 tonnes each year, while generating electricity and capturing waste heat for use by those who will live, work and play at Rentschler Field,’ comments Jan van Dokkum, president of UTC Power. ‘These fuel cells also will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 7 tonnes each year, which equates to the same environmental impact as removing 370 cars from the road.’ Another benefit is that the four fuel cells, which will run continuously in conjunction with the utility supply, will also be capable of providing 800 kW of emergency power to keep the store operational if the power grid fails. Rentschler Field is a 400 ha (1000 acre) project that is being developed by UTC and The Matos Group, a local development firm. The site will be developed into a world-class technology community where people involved in research, engineering and technologies will work and live in an environmentally sustainable place.
Contact: UTC Power, South Windsor, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 860 727 2200, www.utcpower.com
FuelCell Energy power plant for California irrigation district
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has sold a 1.2 MW power plant to the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) in California, to help meet its growing energy needs and improve air quality in the San Joaquin Valley basin. The Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plant will be located at the city of Turlock’s Regional
November 2007
Plug’s GenCore power for police radio tower
I
n the US, Plug Power has installed two GenCore fuel cell systems to provide backup power for a New York State Police radio tower in eastern Rensselaer County. Installed in tandem, the two GenCore units can provide a combined maximum of 10 kW of electric power. The emergency response radio tower requires approximately 7.5 kW. In addition, each fuel cell system has enough stored hydrogen to provide backup power for 72 h without being refueled. At the Grafton tower, which is on the outer reaches of the statewide network, Plug Power’s fuel cell systems will provide the extended run-time needed for continuity of operations during a lengthy grid outage. The continuous availability of the radio system is considered critical to ensuring that the police are able to respond effectively to emergencies and ensure public safety. The Grafton systems are the last of 22 installations funded by the New York Power Authority as part of a program to deploy fuel cells for backup power at public safety communications facilities across New York state. The GenCore product line includes backup power products for the telecoms, uninterruptible power supply and electric utility markets. The hydrogen-fueled GenCore 5 kW backup fuel cell system is available in seven configurations to serve the broad requirements of these diverse applications. Contact: Plug Power Inc, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
CFCL selects UK partner for m-CHP project
A
ustralian-based SOFC developer Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd (CFCL) has selected Gledhill Water Storage Ltd as its UK appliance partner, to join the project announced in July 2007 with E.ON UK that aims to develop and deploy 1 kW micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP) units for the UK market. The three companies will work together to develop a fully integrated m-CHP unit for the residential market that incorporates CFCL’s solid oxide fuel cells. These highly efficient units are designed to power homes while reducing carbon emissions. 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
CFCL is supplying a NetGen+ unit that will operate with a boiler and a specially designed thermal store to produce an ‘alpha’ prototype. This will then be deployed in a field trial. The NetGen+ unit is scheduled to be delivered by December 2007, and the prototype unit will be developed during the second quarter of 2008. Mark Foster, managing director of Gledhill Water Storage, says that the company’s selection as a partner recognizes the key role of intelligent thermal storage systems in maximizing the performance of alternative energy sources. ‘This agreement completes our initial partnering objectives in Europe, with four utility and four appliance partners in place across four key markets,’ says Brendan Dow, managing director of CFCL. Contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Noble Park, Victoria, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9554 2300, www.cfcl.com.au Or contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells (Europe) Ltd, Chester, UK. Tel: +44 1244 893781, Email: [email protected] Or contact: Gledhill Water Storage Ltd, Blackpool, UK. Tel: +44 8449 310000, www.gledhill.net
More Acumentrics remote power for park
M
assachusetts-based Acumentrics has installed a 5 kW solid oxide fuel cell system at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, midway between Cleveland and Akron in Ohio. The system is the company’s second to be installed in Cuyahoga, and makes the park’s environmental education facility ‘grid-independent’ and able to operate even when there is a power failure. The system is sponsored by the Department of Defense, National Park Service, Electric Power Research Institute and by First Energy, the local electric utility in the Cuyahoga area. The park links the urban centers of Cleveland and Akron, preserving the rural character of the Cuyahoga River Valley. ‘The installation of a second system at an existing customer site confirms the value proposition that SOFC units can be depended on in remote and sensitive locations,’ says Gary Simon, CEO of Acumentrics. ‘Parks are environmentally sensitive areas, where an extra premium is placed on the clean and efficient power that SOFCs provide.’ The firm says that its SOFCs can directly use hydrocarbon fuels at very high efficiencies, and also operate on clean fuels such as hydrogen. The system at Cuyahoga will be run on natural gas to provide heat and power to the facility.
Contact: Acumentrics Corporation, Westwood, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 781 461 8251, www.acumentrics.com
large stationary
UTC fuel cells provide power for technology community store
I
n Connecticut, the new Cabela’s store at Rentschler Field in East Hartford will receive approximately two-thirds of the power it requires from four fuel cells, supplied by nearby UTC Power, which are to be installed on the site. ‘Compared with conventional power generating sources, these four UTC Power fuel cells will reduce the development’s carbon footprint by about 1800 tonnes each year, while generating electricity and capturing waste heat for use by those who will live, work and play at Rentschler Field,’ comments Jan van Dokkum, president of UTC Power. ‘These fuel cells also will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 7 tonnes each year, which equates to the same environmental impact as removing 370 cars from the road.’ Another benefit is that the four fuel cells, which will run continuously in conjunction with the utility supply, will also be capable of providing 800 kW of emergency power to keep the store operational if the power grid fails. Rentschler Field is a 400 ha (1000 acre) project that is being developed by UTC and The Matos Group, a local development firm. The site will be developed into a world-class technology community where people involved in research, engineering and technologies will work and live in an environmentally sustainable place.
Contact: UTC Power, South Windsor, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 860 727 2200, www.utcpower.com
FuelCell Energy power plant for California irrigation district
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has sold a 1.2 MW power plant to the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) in California, to help meet its growing energy needs and improve air quality in the San Joaquin Valley basin. The Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plant will be located at the city of Turlock’s Regional
November 2007