Off the grid: 10 fuel cell deployments (photos)
Albertson's supermarket installation in San Diego.
Even though some question the viability of fuel cells as an energy option, given lifespan concerns, some household-name businesses are giving them a try.
Since UTC Power began selling its fuel cell “power plants” in the early 1990s, the company (an offshoot of United Technologies) has installed them in more than 19 countries and 300 installations.
Now, it competes with companies including Bloom Energy and ClearEdge.
UTC Power’s latest offering is PureCell 400, which uses natural gas to create 400 kilowatts of electrical power. The company claims a stack-life of up to 10 years for the technology, almost double the lifespan of rivals. The unit shown is installed at a year-old 55-square-foot Albertson's store in San Diego.
Photos in this gallery are used courtesy of UTC Power, Clear Edge and Bloom Energy.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.comArchitect Bruce Becker standing next to Model 400 at 360 State St in New Haven, Conn.
Architect Bruce Becker of Becker and Becker in Connecticut has used UTC Power fuel cells in multiple locations, including 360 State Street (pictured) in New Haven. The building is a 500-unit Platinum-certified site under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building system.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.comThe Octagon in Roosevelt Island, N.Y., is the first residential building in the state to be powered entirely by fuel cell.
The Octagon, a 500-unit LEED-certified apartment building on Roosevelt Island, NY, is the first residential building in the state to be powered and heated by a 400-kilowatt fuel cell from UTC Power. The building uses 35 percent less energy than require by code. The project earned $1.2 million in financial "incentives" from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.comCoca-Cola has installed UTC Power fuel cells at multiple locations, including East Hartford, Conn.
Coca-Cola has invested in UTC Power fuel cells in multiple locations. The Model 400 unit shown here is powering its bottling plant in East Hartford, Conn. Coca-Cola has also invested in technology from Bloom Energy to the tune of 500 kilowatts at its Odwalla production facility in Dinuba, Calif.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.comThe UTC Power Model 400 is delivered to Whole Foods Market in Dedham, Mass.
In June 2011, Whole Foods took delivery of UTC Power fuel cell technology at its fourth store location. Tristam Coffin, green mission specialist with the Whole Foods Market's Northeast region, says the cells make sense where utility costs are particularly high.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.comThe ClearEdge5 fuel cell at Stone Edge Winery will help run its lights and irrigation system.
Stone Edge Farm, an organic farm and winery in California, expects to save 49 percent on its annual electricity bill by opting for the ClearEdge 5 fuel cell. The technology is a 5-kilowatt fuel cell that runs on natural gas, which makes ClearEdge technology attractive even for smaller companies. The energy will be focused on running the farm's irrigation system and lights.
ClearEdge Power was established in 2003. Its technology is intended for residential and small commercial buildings.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.comA crane lifts a 5-kilowatt ClearEdge5 fuel cell onto the roof of the Palace Hotel in Long Beach, Calif.
LINC Housing, a non-profit in Long Beach, Calif., has installed two ClearEdge5 fuel cells at The Palace Hotel, a 13-apartment building that provides affordable housing for youth. Between the 5-kilowatt fuel cells and a photovoltaic solar panel installation, the building will generate 100 percent of its electricity and heat from alternative sources.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.comWalmart currently supports two Bloom Energy installations in southern California.
One of upstart Bloom Energy's marquee customers is retailer Walmart. The company has completed Bloom Energy Server installations at two stores in Southern California. Each of the installations, powered by biogas, has a capacity of 400 kilowatts. Together, they can generate 3.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.comReferenced back in July 2008, the Google installation of Bloom Energy servers is almost three years old.
One of Bloom Energy's earliest customers (so also one to watch for lifespan concerns) was Internet service giant Google. The company reports that the 400-kilowatt capacity installation in Mountain View, Calif., delivered 3.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity in the first 18 months. "Availability" was reported at 98 percent.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.comThe Bloom Energy Server deployment at eBay in San Jose, Calif., complements a solar technology investment.
Bloom Energy reports that its 500-kilowatt installation at eBay complements the e-commerce giant's 650-kilowatt solar array. The servers delivered 2.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first six months, offsetting more than 650,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. The installation was the first Bloom Energy server deployment powered entirely by renewable biogas.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com