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DOE - Fossil Energy Techline - Issued on: May 2, 1996 World's Largest Advanced Fuel Cell Generates First Electricity in CaliforniaPower Delivered to Santa Clara Grid on April 25, 1996Santa Clara, CA - With just over a month to go before government and industry officials gather in Santa Clara, CA, to officially commission the world's largest advanced fuel cell, the potentially revolutionary new power source has generated its first electricity. The Energy Research Corp. (ERC), developers of the molten carbonate fuel cell, reported that the first electricity from the advanced power device was delivered to the Santa Clara municipal grid on April 25, 1996. The milestone comes as part of an initial start-up and check-out process that will culminate this spring when the fuel cell power plant generates a steady two megawatts of electric power for the city. The power plant has already delivered approximately a megawatt of electricity to the grid, already the most produced by any molten carbonate fuel cell in the world. On June 3, 1996, Secretary of Energy Hazel R. O'Leary will join with local officials and other participants in the Santa Clara Demonstration Project to formally dedicate the fuel cell power plant. The initial power generation heralds a major step forward for fuel cells as a future commercial power source. Unlike traditional power plants, fuel cells do not rely on combustion. Instead, the devices operate like continuously fueled batteries, producing electricity by an electrochemical reaction that emits virtually no harmful pollutants. Emissions, for example, from the Santa Clara fuel cell will be less than one-tenth of the most stringent allowable limits for a power plant. Fuel for the system is supplied by natural gas. Fuel cells also hold promise as one of the most efficient means of generating electricity from fossil fuels. Because higher fuel-to-electricity efficiencies mean that less carbon dioxide is emitted, fuel cells are one of the key technologies being supported by the Department of Energy as a way of reducing greenhouse gases. "The June 3rd dedication will likely draw the attention of many in the energy and environmental community, but for those who have worked more than 20 years to see molten carbonate fuel cell technology take shape, the first kilowatt of electricity from a new machine always brings a great deal of satisfaction," said Mark Williams, fuel cell product manager for DOE's Morgantown Energy Technology Center, which oversees the Federal fuel cell power plant program. "For a first-of-a-kind project, the Santa Clara demonstration has had a remarkably smooth construction and startup period. Now the task is to fine-tune the system, bringing it into steady service as a reliable power supplier. In time, as fuel cells are perfected to meet customers' expectations of performance, cost, and service, we will have created a potentially revolutionary way to generate clean power from fossil fuels. First power from the Santa Clara unit is a big step in that direction," Williams said. DOE is providing funding for the power-producing fuel cell stacks. Other participants, which are funding other portions of the demonstration plant, include the City of Santa Clara, the Electric Power Research Institute, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (represented by United Power Association, Elk River, MN), Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Southern California Edison Company, the City of Vernon, CA, and the Santa Clara Demonstration Consortium, which includes the Salt River Project and the Northern California Power Agency. The Fuel Cell Engineering Corp., an ERC subsidiary, is also providing funding. Fluor Daniel, Inc., Irvine, CA, is the engineering and construction sub-contractor for the project. -End of TechLine- Information Contacts: |