Largest U.S. Fuel Cell Plant Set For Connecticut School

An $18 million project will include six 200-kW PC25 fuel cells from a unit of United Technologies to be installed by Select Energy Group, an unregulated subsidiary of Northeast Utilities, at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown.

According to reports, this is the largest single-site fuel cell power plant installation planned for the U.S.—perhaps in the world.

When operational, possibly in September, the new central energy plant serving the 227,000 square feet of school buildings at the campus will supply 1.2 mW of electricity, 9 million Btu/h of hot water and 680 tons of chilled water.

Select Energy will operate and maintain the system for the next 20 years, with a 10-year renewal option under a contract that is expected to generate $2 million per year for the company.

The United Technology unit, International Fuel Cells, located in South Windsor, Conn. is “the leader in the fuel cell industry, and the PC25 power plant’s proven track record made IFC the logical choice as a partner for this innovative effort,” said Michael Cassella, director of new business for Select Energy.

From Pure Power, Summer 2001.

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