- Email: [email protected]
Hartford powers up microgrid with Bloom Energy, Constellation
NEWS demand and provides data on renewable energy supply-and-demand, which can be used to stabilise the electricity output. Meanwhile, Toshiba’s first commercial-scale 100 kW pure hydrogen fuel cell system has begun operation, supplying clean electricity and hot water to a municipal wholesale flower and vegetable market in Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture [see page 7]. Toshiba, Hydrogen Energy: https://www.toshiba-newenergy.com/en
Hartford powers up microgrid with Bloom Energy, Constellation
T
he City of Hartford in Connecticut has announced the completion of an independent fuel cell microgrid built in collaboration with energy supplier Constellation and Californiabased Bloom Energy. The microgrid will use Bloom Energy Server solid oxide fuel cell power plants to generate clean energy, manage electricity costs, and supply emergency power for public buildings and businesses in the state capital’s Parkville neighbourhood. The 800 kW microgrid system generates all of the electricity for Hartford’s Parkville Elementary School, Dwight Branch Library, Parkville Senior Center and Charter Oak Health Center. In the event of an electric grid outage, the microgrid will provide emergency power to these locations plus a local fuel station and grocery store, allowing residents to still be able to purchase essentials. Excess power generated by the system will reduce electricity costs at four local schools: Bulkeley High School, Hartford High School, Weaver High School, and the Sport and Medical Sciences Academy. The project is the first in Connecticut to be developed through a public-private effort, and one of the first implemented through the Microgrid Grant Program of the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It is also part of the state’s LowEmission Renewable Energy Credits Program, which enables participants to sell qualified Connecticut Class I Renewable Energy Credits created from renewable projects to the local utility under a long-term contract. Constellation – part of the electric utility Exelon – provided engineering, procurement and construction services for the project, and operates the microgrid system. The city will purchase the electricity generated by the Bloom Energy Servers at or below current market rates
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
through a 15-year power purchase agreement [FCB, May 2016, p5]. Bloom Energy has more than 200 projects across the US and in Japan, the latter through its joint venture with SoftBank [July 2014, p6]. Bloom recently installed IKEA’s fifth biogaspowered SOFC power plant in California, and the home furnishing retailer’s first Bloom Energy Server on the East Coast, at its store in New Haven, Connecticut [April 2017, p6]. Bloom Energy, Sunnyvale, California, USA. Tel: +1 408 543 1500, www.bloomenergy.com City of Hartford microgrid video: https://youtu.be/2gMv-Diaxow Constellation: www.constellation.com
Mitsubishi Hitachi hybrid SOFC-MGTs in trials at Toyota, NGK
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itsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) is trialing 250 kW pressurised hybrid power generation systems that combine a tubular solid oxide fuel cell with a micro gas turbine (MGT), at two industrial plants in Japan. Automaker Toyota Motor Corporation has begun trial operations of a system at its Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, while NGK Spark Plug Co is now operating a system at its Komaki Factory, both in Aichi Prefecture, near Nagoya. The Hybrid-FC 250 power generation system employs SOFC technology and an MGT in its two-stage power generation mode, running on hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) produced by reforming natural gas. Unreacted fuel in the SOFC exhaust is fed at high pressure to the MGT, and combusted to generate additional electricity. The hybrid power generation system was jointly developed by MHPS, Toyota, and its subsidiary Toyota Turbine and Systems Inc [FCB, December 2014, p1 and October 2016, p8]. The system is being implemented as part of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) initiative, Technological Demonstration for targeting Mass-production of Pressurized Hybrid Power Generation System Consisting of Cylindrical Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and a Micro Gas Turbine. This combined heat and power (CHP, or cogeneration) system uses the ‘waste’ heat produced in power generation within Toyota’s Motomachi Plant. This achieves an electricity generating efficiency of 55% with its two-stage system, and cogeneration boosts the overall efficiency to 65%. Toyota will continuously
monitor the results from the introduction and demonstration of this hybrid power generation system. It represents progress in initiatives targeted at eliminating CO2 emissions from its manufacturing plants. Toyota – which will shortly begin demonstrating its Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle in China [see page 2] – is also using fuel cell powered forklifts, manufactured by Toyota Industries Corporation, at the Motomachi Plant [February 2017, p3]. In addition, NGK Spark Plug has installed a pressurised hybrid SOFC-MGT power generation system at its Komaki Factory, on the edge of nearby Nagoya. The electric power and steam produced will be used to power manufacturing facilities and air-conditioning equipment at the plant. NGK will verify the operating efficiency, operability and durability as a cogeneration system, developing knowledge to facilitate cost reduction and hence massproduction of the cylindrical SOFC stacks. In 2014 NGK Spark Plug partnered with MHPS to develop mass production of cylindrical SOFC stacks [August 2014, p10]. The partnership combines NGK’s ceramicrelated mass-production technology with MHPS’s expertise in developing, designing and manufacturing cylindrical cell stacks. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems: http://tinyurl.com/mhps-sofc NGK Spark Plug Co Ltd: www.ngkntk.co.jp/english Toyota, Fuel Cell Technology: http://tinyurl.com/toyota-fcevs New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization: www.nedo.go.jp/english/index.html
FuelCell Energy in NY grid resiliency project, highlights MCFCs as carbon capture solution
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has executed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with PSEG Long Island, New York, under which a SureSource 1500™ molten carbonate fuel cell will supply electricity to an existing electrical substation. FCE also contributed to the ‘clean coal’ discussion at the recent US National Coal Council Annual Spring Meeting, highlighting its MCFC solution to capture carbon emissions from coalfired power plants. The FuelCell Energy MCFC plant will supply power to the PSEG Long Island electrical substation via a multi-year PPA. The system will be located at an industrial operation on Long
May 2017
Hartford powers up microgrid with Bloom Energy, Constellation
T
he City of Hartford in Connecticut has announced the completion of an independent fuel cell microgrid built in collaboration with energy supplier Constellation and Californiabased Bloom Energy. The microgrid will use Bloom Energy Server solid oxide fuel cell power plants to generate clean energy, manage electricity costs, and supply emergency power for public buildings and businesses in the state capital’s Parkville neighbourhood. The 800 kW microgrid system generates all of the electricity for Hartford’s Parkville Elementary School, Dwight Branch Library, Parkville Senior Center and Charter Oak Health Center. In the event of an electric grid outage, the microgrid will provide emergency power to these locations plus a local fuel station and grocery store, allowing residents to still be able to purchase essentials. Excess power generated by the system will reduce electricity costs at four local schools: Bulkeley High School, Hartford High School, Weaver High School, and the Sport and Medical Sciences Academy. The project is the first in Connecticut to be developed through a public-private effort, and one of the first implemented through the Microgrid Grant Program of the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It is also part of the state’s LowEmission Renewable Energy Credits Program, which enables participants to sell qualified Connecticut Class I Renewable Energy Credits created from renewable projects to the local utility under a long-term contract. Constellation – part of the electric utility Exelon – provided engineering, procurement and construction services for the project, and operates the microgrid system. The city will purchase the electricity generated by the Bloom Energy Servers at or below current market rates
6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
through a 15-year power purchase agreement [FCB, May 2016, p5]. Bloom Energy has more than 200 projects across the US and in Japan, the latter through its joint venture with SoftBank [July 2014, p6]. Bloom recently installed IKEA’s fifth biogaspowered SOFC power plant in California, and the home furnishing retailer’s first Bloom Energy Server on the East Coast, at its store in New Haven, Connecticut [April 2017, p6]. Bloom Energy, Sunnyvale, California, USA. Tel: +1 408 543 1500, www.bloomenergy.com City of Hartford microgrid video: https://youtu.be/2gMv-Diaxow Constellation: www.constellation.com
Mitsubishi Hitachi hybrid SOFC-MGTs in trials at Toyota, NGK
M
itsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) is trialing 250 kW pressurised hybrid power generation systems that combine a tubular solid oxide fuel cell with a micro gas turbine (MGT), at two industrial plants in Japan. Automaker Toyota Motor Corporation has begun trial operations of a system at its Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, while NGK Spark Plug Co is now operating a system at its Komaki Factory, both in Aichi Prefecture, near Nagoya. The Hybrid-FC 250 power generation system employs SOFC technology and an MGT in its two-stage power generation mode, running on hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) produced by reforming natural gas. Unreacted fuel in the SOFC exhaust is fed at high pressure to the MGT, and combusted to generate additional electricity. The hybrid power generation system was jointly developed by MHPS, Toyota, and its subsidiary Toyota Turbine and Systems Inc [FCB, December 2014, p1 and October 2016, p8]. The system is being implemented as part of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) initiative, Technological Demonstration for targeting Mass-production of Pressurized Hybrid Power Generation System Consisting of Cylindrical Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and a Micro Gas Turbine. This combined heat and power (CHP, or cogeneration) system uses the ‘waste’ heat produced in power generation within Toyota’s Motomachi Plant. This achieves an electricity generating efficiency of 55% with its two-stage system, and cogeneration boosts the overall efficiency to 65%. Toyota will continuously
monitor the results from the introduction and demonstration of this hybrid power generation system. It represents progress in initiatives targeted at eliminating CO2 emissions from its manufacturing plants. Toyota – which will shortly begin demonstrating its Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle in China [see page 2] – is also using fuel cell powered forklifts, manufactured by Toyota Industries Corporation, at the Motomachi Plant [February 2017, p3]. In addition, NGK Spark Plug has installed a pressurised hybrid SOFC-MGT power generation system at its Komaki Factory, on the edge of nearby Nagoya. The electric power and steam produced will be used to power manufacturing facilities and air-conditioning equipment at the plant. NGK will verify the operating efficiency, operability and durability as a cogeneration system, developing knowledge to facilitate cost reduction and hence massproduction of the cylindrical SOFC stacks. In 2014 NGK Spark Plug partnered with MHPS to develop mass production of cylindrical SOFC stacks [August 2014, p10]. The partnership combines NGK’s ceramicrelated mass-production technology with MHPS’s expertise in developing, designing and manufacturing cylindrical cell stacks. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems: http://tinyurl.com/mhps-sofc NGK Spark Plug Co Ltd: www.ngkntk.co.jp/english Toyota, Fuel Cell Technology: http://tinyurl.com/toyota-fcevs New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization: www.nedo.go.jp/english/index.html
FuelCell Energy in NY grid resiliency project, highlights MCFCs as carbon capture solution
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has executed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with PSEG Long Island, New York, under which a SureSource 1500™ molten carbonate fuel cell will supply electricity to an existing electrical substation. FCE also contributed to the ‘clean coal’ discussion at the recent US National Coal Council Annual Spring Meeting, highlighting its MCFC solution to capture carbon emissions from coalfired power plants. The FuelCell Energy MCFC plant will supply power to the PSEG Long Island electrical substation via a multi-year PPA. The system will be located at an industrial operation on Long
May 2017