FuelCell Energy, Inc., 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.
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.
Photo of FuelCell Energy
Press release https://shorturl.at/LPWk9
