DANBURY, CT, Nov. 9, 2010 -- FuelCell Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL) a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean high efficiency power plants using renewable and other fuels for commercial, industrial, government, and utility clients, today announced the sale of a 2.8 megawatt (MW) DFC3000 power plant to be installed at a wastewater treatment plant operated by Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), a municipal water district based in Chino, California. Renewable biogas created by the wastewater treatment process will be the primary fuel source for the generation of ultra-clean electricity. UTS Bioenergy LLC will purchase the DFC3000 and sell the power generated to IEUA under a 20 year power purchase agreement. FuelCell Energy will service the power plant under a long term service agreement and the unit is expected to be operational in early 2012.
"Installation of this fuel cell operating on renewable biogas is an important component of our renewable energy generation strategy," said Terry Catlin, Board President, Inland Empire Utilities Agency. "The clean electrical generation process and the reliable 24/7 operating nature of the fuel cell will help us attain the objectives of our strategic energy plan and position us to meet ever more stringent clean air emission requirements."
This distributed generation fuel cell helps the IEUA reach its goal of generating all of their power needs on-site in a renewable manner and reducing reliance on the electric grid.
Fuel cells use an electrochemical process to efficiently generate clean electricity, without combustion. The primary byproducts of this process are high-quality heat and water. The lack of combustion eliminates almost all pollutants such as NOx, SOx or particulate matter. The fuel cell power plant will replace existing internal-combustion engines so the clean power generation will help IEUA meet the stringent emission regulations issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), the local air pollution control agency. This reduction in pollutants is equivalent to removing at least 353 cars from the road.
Fuel cells are highly efficient and can achieve efficiencies up to 90 percent when byproduct heat is utilized. The byproduct heat from this power plant will be used to help create the renewable biogas by heating the anaerobic digesters that produce the biogas. High efficiency decreases energy costs and provides more electrical output from the same amount of biogas than less efficient alternatives.
"Fuel cells represent an economically and environmentally compelling solution for converting renewable waste streams into clean electricity," said Arun Sharma, Vice President Business Development, UTS BioEnergy LLC. "We believe fuel cells are a critical component of improving the reliability and efficiency of power supplies and expect to replicate this fuel cell business model with other power users that have baseload 24/7 energy requirements."
"Clean, efficient and dependable fuel cell power generation offers our clients a cost effective path to address their strategic energy goals and environmental stewardship simultaneously," said Chip Bottone, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, FuelCell Energy Inc.
This project is eligible for a grant under the California Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). The SGIP promotes the installation of clean distributed generation power sources.
IEUA, formed in 1950, is a municipal water district located in western San Bernardino County, California. IEUA's mission is to supply imported drinking water, collect and treat wastewater, produce beneficially reusable compost and high quality recycled water to the 850,000 residents living within its 242-square miles service area.
UTS BioEnergy LLC develops, owns and operates alternative energy projects with a specialty on biogas production and conversion to electricity and heat. The Company, based in Encinitas, California, has extensive experience transforming a variety of waste streams into energy in a cost effective manner.
About FuelCell Energy
DFC® fuel cells are generating power at over 50 locations worldwide. The Company's power plants have generated over 600 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable wastewater gas, biogas from beer and food processing, as well as natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels. FuelCell Energy has partnerships with major power plant developers and power companies around the world. The Company also receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and other government agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as fuel cells. For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com
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