FuelCellsWorks

Authority offers $21.6 million for fuel cell technology installation

ALBANY – The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced an incentive program for businesses, hospitals or other large power consumers interested in installing fuel cells.

The technology allows users to generate some of their own power with clean-energy technology, using less energy from the electric grid.

NYSERDA’s Customer-Sited Tier Fuel Cell Program will provide as much as $21.6 million through 2015. The program provides an incentive toward the cost of fuel cell installation, plus payments over the first three years of operation based on power produced.

Companies can collect a total payment of up to $1 million for fuel cells, based on the size of the project. Funding is awarded to applications received on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“Fuel cells present a promising technology that NYSERDA strongly supports,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. “If more large power consumers install fuel cells to offset some of their power needs, this will further our progress toward growing clean energy in New York State while taking some of the strain off the electric grid.”

The program is funded under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The RPS, created by the state Public Service Commission in 2004 to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, is administered by NYSERDA and collected from utility ratepayers. The fund is used to help pay for dozens of clean-energy projects every year, ranging from large-scale wind farms to photovoltaic panels on private homes.

The funding is available to New York ratepayers who pay the RPS charge, but intended for businesses, government facilities, apartment complexes or other large enterprises. Extra incentives will be available to sites that serve a public benefit, such as hospitals, police stations or disaster shelters.

Fuel cells function similarly to a battery, although on a more complex level. In a process called “reforming,”  natural gas is converted to a hydrogen-rich fuel. This is then combined with oxygen in an electrochemical process to produce electricity, heat and water. The heat can be recycled through the building to reduce heating, cooling or manufacturing costs. The technology can also work during a blackout.

Fuel cells emit about 60 percent less carbon dioxide than conventional combustion engines, and give off virtually none of the harmful pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels. And because fuel cells are located where the power is being used, there is no energy loss through transmission. About 8 percent of energy produced by large plants is lost due to resistance on transmission lines.

Fuel cells vary in price. A small fuel cell that generates 10 kilowatts would cost about $35,000 for the cell itself, and about $68,000 including installation, before incentives are applied. Large fuel cells have the ability to provide a significant portion of the electricity to run a major business or apartment complex, but can be expensive to install. For instance, a 400 kilowatt system installed at the 500-apartment Octagon complex on Roosevelt Island in New York City cost $2.4 million and is about the size of a small truck.

A variety of facilities around the state are installing or operating  fuel cells funded partially by NYSERDA, including:

• Price Chopper Supermarkets, Colonie, Albany County and Glenville, Schenectady County. Mona Golub, (518) 379-1636
• Coca-Cola Refreshments, Inc., Elmsford, Westchester County. Toney Anaya, (914) 648-0956
• Fox News, New York City. Public relations, (212) 301-3000
• The Octagon Park apartment complex, Roosevelt Island, NYC. Michelle Lauterwasser, (203)-736-7019
• East Rochester Central School District. Jose Correa, (585) 750-0981

Spokane, WA – ReliOn’s E-2500 fuel cell system was named a finalist in the Green Telecom & Smart Energy Solutions, Applications and Hardware category of CTIA’s annual Emerging Technology (E-Tech) Awards competition. The CTIA E-Tech Awards honor the most innovative new products in 14 categories spanning the areas of mobile apps, consumer electronics, enterprise and infrastructure. Winners will be announced at International CTIA WIRELESS® 2011, taking place March 22-24 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Announced last week, the E-2500 fuel cell is the third in a new ReliOn product line, the E-series. The E-2500 fuel cell system offers 2,500 Watts of power in a chassis that is sixty percent of the size of ReliOn’s 2,000 Watt product, the T-2000. The development of this new product utilizes the patented modular, fault-tolerant aspects of ReliOn’s field-proven fuel cell systems in higher density power modules. The product is a simply-designed, air-cooled fuel cell system housed in an 8U (14” tall) 23” rack-mountable package.

As with all of ReliOn’s fuel cell products, emissions are limited to warm air and a small amount of water, and the E-2500 system is exempt from the most stringent air quality standards, such as those set by the California Air Resources Board. A scalable backup power solution, the E-2500 fuel cell system can provide 24 hours of power for equipment needing up to 10kW in an industry-leading footprint. Higher power configurations are available as well. Initial systems have been delivered to customers this quarter. Orders are being taken now for E-2500 systems.

More than 300 entries to the E-Tech Awards competition were judged by a panel of media and industry analysts and scored on innovation, functionality, technological importance, implementation and overall “wow” factor. E-Tech winners, including Best of Show and Best Online Pick will be announced at the awards ceremony on Wednesday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m. EST from CTIA’s Exhibit Innovations Stage on the tradeshow floor. Between now and March 23, website visitors may vote for the “Best Online Pick” at www.ctiashow.com/awards. International CTIA WIRELESS show attendees will vote onsite via text message for entries in the E-Tech Awards display to win “Best in Show.”

About CTIA: CTIA shows bring together all industries advanced by wireless technology for intense business, learning and networking. International CTIA WIRELESS® 2011 takes place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, March 22-24. CTIA ENTERPRISE & APPLICATIONS™ 2011 takes place in San Diego, October 11-13. Visit www.ctiashow.com. CTIA–The Wireless Association® is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Visit www.ctia.org.

About ReliOn:
ReliOn’s continuous innovation in core technology has made it a leader in the development and marketing of modular, fault-tolerant fuel cell products for customers seeking solutions to critical backup power applications. With more than 1,150 systems serving sites in 38 U.S. states and 21 countries, ReliOn customers enjoy the benefits of high reliability, low operating costs and easy maintenance. ReliOn fuel cells…simply powerful. www.relion-inc.com

A senior commission official has admitted the EU faces “huge obstacles” in its efforts to create a low-carbon economy.

Addressing a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, Jean-Marie Bemtgen said a “massive” amount of research was still required before hydrogen could be seen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

The hearing, “Powering Europe’s future energy and mobility,” was organised by the ALDE group.

The one-day event was aimed at looking at how hydrogen technologies can offer possible solutions to the ongoing debate over Europe’s future energy mix.

It focused on the development of hydrogen-related electro-mobility in Europe and the support the EU can provide to facilitate public and private initiatives in this field and on innovative solutions in green transport.

Bemtgen, a senior policy officer in the commission’s energy directorate, said it was timely as it comes against the backdrop of rising energy prices.

He said, “Hydrogen energy does have a future and a lot of hopes and ambitions have been invested in the technology.

“But we have to remember that, sometimes, technology, has its limitations, and there still needs to be a huge amount of research into hydrogen.”

Bemtgen, a keynote speaker at the event, also warned that Europe had work to do in order to regain its “leadership role” in hydrogen technology.

“The objective should be to ensure that we can compete with very dynamic countries like Japan, China and Korea,” he said.

While warning that the challenge was “enormous”, he said the commission would “do all it can” to help achieve this objective.

“Hydrogen, as an energy storer and carrier can be very useful and, at an EU level, this will remain high on the agenda.”

He said he hoped the importance the EU attaches to the role of hydrogen in the energy mix would be reflected in the commission’s upcoming eighth framework programme.

But Bemtgen, speaking in a session on EU energy infrastructure priorities, cautioned against over-optimism, saying, “If we want large quantities of hydrogen it will have to come from ‘green’ electricity, such as offshore wind farms. Otherwise, it will not make sense.”

He added, “The message I want to convey is that if, as it professes, the EU wants a decarbonised society by 2050, it cannot continue with the speed of today’s technology.

“2050 may seem like a long way off to politicians but, in terms of technology, it is a very short period of time.

“If the EU wants hydrogen technology to be ready for the mass market before 2050 it must accelerate research and development into this now.”

Further comment came from Andreas Ziolek, of HyRaMP, the European fuel cell and hydrogen regions and municipalities partnership, who said, “Hydrogen, as an energy carrier, is widely seen as an important component of a new global energy system.

“It can substitute the current fossil-fuel based infrastructure with a sustainable, secure and competitive alternative.”

Ian Williamson, who chairs the European hydrogen association, said that Europe was “not prepared” for the “energy crisis” it faces.

“New energy storage capacity will be required and our future energy system will be structurally different from today.”