FuelCell Energy to Help Power UConn’s Innovation Drive Towards 2030 Carbon Neutrality with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells on Storrs Campus.
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCEL) and the University of Connecticut (UConn) have announced that UConn will use FuelCell Energy’s solid oxide fuel cell technology for its Innovation Partnership Building (IPB) at the UConn Tech Park on its Storrs Campus.
Four of FuelCell Energy’s 250-kilowatt solid oxide fuel cells, with a combined one megawatt of electricity generation capability, will provide power and thermal energy to support current and planned future demand of the IPB—allowing it to operate independently from the local utility grid. FuelCell Energy and UConn will work together as part of a power purchase agreement and will also collaborate on educational opportunities for students that include educational lectures, facility tours, and internship opportunities for engineering students.
UConn’s Sustainable Energy Leadership
UConn is known for both the study and adoption of sustainable energy technologies while supporting the sustainable energy innovation happening in its home state of Connecticut, such as at Connecticut-based FuelCell Energy. This leading public research university has committed to transforming its Storrs flagship campus to carbon neutral by 2030, and the FuelCell Energy platforms are part of these broader sustainable energy efforts.
Radenka Maric, UConn President a recognized global authority on sustainable energy, commented:
This valuable partnership will help UConn to accomplish two critical goals: utilizing clean and sustainable energy sources to power our campuses as we work toward our carbon neutrality goals while at the same time providing research and learning opportunities for members of our campus community.
“Ensuring that UConn is as sustainable as possible and supporting research and innovation in the clean energy field is one of the great challenges of our lifetimes.”
UConn will oversee the technical and programmatic work of eight regional groups called Technical Assistance Partnerships in different parts of the U.S. with its campus serving as the main Technical Analysis and Support Center in the Department of Energy decarbonization project.
Jason Few, FuelCell Energy’s President and CEO, said:
We are thrilled that our home state university shares our passion and purpose to develop and drive sustainable energy solutions and has been recognized for its leadership in sustainable energy study and adoption.
“It is an honor to work with President Maric, her administration, research teams, and operations to support UConn’s Innovation Partnership Building and 2030 carbon neutral goal.”
Overview of FuelCell Energy Project at UConn
The FuelCell Energy project at the IPB will be completed in two phases, with two of the 250 kilowatt SOFC units being installed during each phase. Data collected from the fuel cells will be used by students and faculty for academic analysis. After the completion of phase two, the system will be integrated into a building microgrid, and any unused power will be exported to the Eversource grid under the fuel cell net metering tariffs.
Additionally, each unit will be configured to operate in a combined heat and power (“CHP”) mode. This will allow UConn to integrate the thermal energy recovery into the operating thermal system that already exists within the IPB.
Pamir Alpay, UConn’s Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, said:
Innovation requires energy, and our leaders have worked hard to establish an environment where our power needs are met without negatively impacting our carbon footprint.
“These fuel cell units will sufficiently power the entire Tech Park, UConn’s nexus for research progress. In the process, we move closer to our goal of carbon neutrality without compromising the needs of our partners and centers that call the Tech Park home.”
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FuelCell Energy to Help Power UConn’s Innovation Drive Towards 2030 Carbon Neutrality with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells on Storrs Campus. source
