FuelCell Energy, Inc., a company that delivers fuel cell solutions for the supply, recovery and storage of energy, today announced reaching a clean power generation milestone with a total of more than 9 million megawatt hours having been generated by SureSource fuel cell power plants globally since the first commercial installation.
SureSource fuel cells are a clean energy solution for the need for baseload power, as power is made continuously, positioning them as a complement to the intermittent power sources of wind and solar. FuelCell Energy’s SureSource plants are currently installed and operating on three continents, with many owned by utility and industrial companies.
Enabling utilities and independent power producers (IPP) to add ultra-clean, affordable and distributed power generation throughout their service area enhances grid resiliency by easily siting power generation right where the power is needed, such as next to existing electrical substations. SureSource plants are especially beneficial for urban and suburban locations where land is either expensive or scarce, given the unmatched power density per square foot versus utility scale solar.
Examples at Play
In New Haven, Connecticut, United Illuminating generates 2.8 megawatts with the SureSource 3000 fuel cell on a utility-owned ¼ acre parcel of land next to its substation, avoiding the need for and cost of transmission while enhancing the resiliency of energy supply. According to FuelCell Energy, municipalities benefit with clean and quiet power generated locally, and receive property tax revenue from formerly vacant land, while the state receives sales tax.
Behind the-meter, SureSource fuel cell solutions support industrial processes generating continuous power and heat to ensure the on-site operations of the facility. Pfizer’s 160-acre research and development center’s mission critical infrastructure is supported with two SureSource 3000 fuel cells that generate 5.6 megawatts, increasing resiliency and supporting sustainability objectives that are contributing to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 20% by 2020.
As of today, 10 states in the US and Puerto Rico have classified stationary fuel cells in the highest tier of clean power generation due to the high efficiency and resultant low carbon emissions and negligible NOx and particulate matter typical of other combustion sources of baseload power.
