KOHLER, Wis.– Kohler Power Systems, part of Kohler Energy, announces it has collaborated with Toyota Motor North America (Toyota) to develop and install a hydrogen fuel cell power generation system at the Klickitat Valley Health hospital in Goldendale, Washington. The fuel cell power system combines Kohler and Toyota technologies to showcase the viability of the zero-emission technology for power generation. The system and upcoming installation marks a significant step for Kohler toward offering a commercially available product that will help customers with their decarbonization goals.
“Kohler is committed to investing in new technologies to help our customers achieve their resiliency goals without sacrificing their climate-related objectives, and fuel cells are a hugely promising opportunity – both on their own, and when combined with other complementary technologies for more flexible power strategies, such as microgrids,” said Charles Hunsucker, Kohler Power Systems President. “Kohler has a strong relationship with Toyota, and we greatly value its commitment to clean energy and its technological expertise in fuel cells.”
Merging Kohler’s energy management expertise with Toyota’s leading fuel cell technology, the fuel cell power system combines Kohler’s power generation control platform and system integration expertise with a fuel cell module from Toyota for a scalable, industry-leading solution for zero-emission power that can meet the diverse needs of a variety of customers. The resulting new “KOHLER Fuel Cell System” is ideal for prime, peak shaving, and emergency situations. The system can be scaled or customized by application to ensure the delivery of exceptional performance for the specific needs of customers, whether for individual installations or covering entire facility complexes.
“Toyota has been exploring various applications of our fuel cell technology and this opportunity with Kohler highlights the decarbonization opportunities that hydrogen as a fuel can provide for customers,” said Chris Yang, Group Vice President, Business Development, Toyota. “Our fuel cell technology can be scaled and used to power a wide variety of products beyond transportation, and it does so without any emissions except water.”
The first KOHLER Fuel Cell System will be installed at Klickitat Valley Health, a hospital that serves as the principle medical center for over 10,000 people in their district. The hospital previously announced plans to reinforce their electrical infrastructure including backup and secondary power generation that included a hydrogen fuel cell to ensure uninterrupted operations. The Kohler system will be used to support their power strategy, helping the hospital to meet its preparedness needs.
Launching the KOHLER Fuel Cell System is a significant milestone in Kohler’s commitment to sustainability. This initiative aligns with our mission to improve the company’s operational environmental footprint while designing more environmentally friendly products that help our customers and consumers in their own sustainable journey. Kohler has been tracking its environmental footprint since 2008 as a key part of its environmental strategy, and it has established goals for reducing Scope 1-2 GHG emissions, water usage, and waste to landfill across its operations.
KOHLER Controls and System Integration
Leveraging decades of experience in energy systems, a Kohler-designed and manufactured controller will continuously monitor and manage operating conditions to harness the reliability, flexibility, and performance of the Toyota fuel cell as well as protect it from damage. The control system is extremely versatile and customizable, so Kohler can provide a system that functions precisely as the customer expects and interoperates with building-management systems (BMS).
Kohler will also complete the system integration and balance of plant to ensure all supporting components and auxiliary systems needed to deliver energy operate together safely and reliably and within a turnkey package.
TOYOTA Fuel Cell Module
In response to increasing demand for clean power generation across several industries and applications, Toyota has consolidated various components from a second-generation Toyota Mirai passenger vehicle fuel cell system into a single, compact fuel cell module. The newly created module includes the second generation’s improved fuel cell stack and the elements responsible for the generation of electricity (air containing oxygen and the gaseous hydrogen fuel), system cooling, and on-board power control. The module can be easily integrated and scaled into a variety of power plant applications.
Toyota has more than 30 years of experience in fuel cell (FC) technology development and has worked to advance the creation of a hydrogen society that includes a focus on clean transportation. To date, Toyota has already developed and sells the hydrogen-powered Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle and has collaborated to scale the technology to create larger powertrain kits for things like heavy-duty class 8 trucks. The scalability and familiarity to the operation of FC systems makes it quickly adaptable to various applications and industries.
About Kohler Energy
Kohler Energy, a global leader in energy resilience solutions, brings bold design and powerful impact to the energy systems that sustain people and communities everywhere around the world. It is an integral part of Kohler Co., with solutions across Home Energy, Industrial Power Systems, and Powertrain Technologies. Leveraging the strength of its portfolio of brands – Power Systems, Home Generators, Kohler Uninterruptible Power, Clarke Energy, Heila Technologies, Curtis Instruments, and Engines. With more than a century of industry leadership, Kohler Energy builds resilience and goes beyond functional, individual recovery to create better lives and communities. For more details, please visit kohler.com/energy.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).
Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 47 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.6 million cars and trucks (more than 2.2 million in the U.S.) in 2023, of which more than one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).
For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
About Kohler Co.
For 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in design and innovation, dedicated to providing gracious living through kitchen and bath products; luxury cabinetry, tile and lighting; distributed energy solutions – home energy, industrial power systems, and powertrain technologies – and luxury hospitality experiences and major championship golf. Privately held Kohler Co. was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company also develops solutions to address pressing issues, such as clean water and sanitation, for underserved communities around the world to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.
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