FuelCell Energy Boosts Electric Power Output of DFC Power Plants 20
Percent in Same Footprint
Publication Date:30-August-2006
08:30 AM US Eastern Timezone
Source: FuelCellWorks
Increased Power Density Reduces Cost of Ultra-Clean Product Company
Taking Orders on New Units for Spring 2007 Delivery DANBURY,
Conn.--FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NasdaqNM:FCEL), a leading manufacturer of
ultra-clean electric power plants for commercial and industrial
customers, today announced an advanced cell stack design that boosts
the power output of its Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plants by 20
percent. The company is incorporating the enhancement across its entire
line of power plants.
By improving thermal management of electrochemical activity within the
stack, the company has increased the power output from each cell and
can produce more electricity from the same basic power plant
components. The 20 percent increase in electric power output, combined
with the company's progress in its value engineering and ongoing
cost-reduction programs, are integral to achieving FuelCell Energy's
$3,200-3,500/kilowatt (kW) cost target at the end of this calendar year
for its DFC3000 power plant.
"We continue to realize results from our comprehensive cost reduction
efforts," said R. Daniel Brdar, FuelCell Energy President and CEO.
"With additional technology-driven improvements we have under
development, value engineering, supply chain development, and economies
from volume production, we are positioned to meet the power needs of
the broad market."
"Today's milestone demonstrates the ability of our people to execute
our product development and cost reduction plans and is a major step in
realizing the commercial potential of our products," he said. "Our
talented and dedicated engineers, technologists and manufacturing
employees are concentrating on capturing the power -- up to a 50
percent increase -- that is inherent in our technology. Now that we've
successfully captured the first 20 percent, we're focused on achieving
the balance in our ongoing product development plans."
Delivering more power directly enhances the value of a DFC product to
customers by reducing their cost per kilowatt hour (kWh).
Manufactured in FuelCell Energy's commercial production facility, DFC
power plants consist of one or multiple stacks, depending on system
configuration and customer power requirements. All of the company's
products, unmatched in the industry for efficiency, use common cell
components so the up-rated stacks increase power output across the
product line. The DFC3000 power plant increases to 2.4 megawatts (MW)
from 2 MW. Similarly, power output of the DFC1500MA rises to 1.2 MW and
the DFC300MA to 300 kW.
Validation tests of the enhanced cell stack in a DFC power plant
confirmed the increased output. The company has begun incorporating the
enhanced design in its production line. DFC products operating at the
increased power output will be available for shipping as early as the
second calendar quarter of 2007, and the company is now accepting
customer orders for these products.
About FuelCell Energy, Inc.
FuelCell Energy develops and markets ultra-clean power plants that
generate electricity with higher efficiency than distributed generation
plants of similar size and with virtually no air pollution. Fuel cells
produce base load electricity giving commercial and industrial
customers greater control over their power generation economics,
reliability and emissions. Emerging state, federal and international
regulations to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions consider fuel
cell power plants in the same environmentally friendly category as wind
and solar energy sources -- with the added advantages of running 24
hours a day and the capacity to be installed where wind turbines or
solar panels often cannot. Headquartered in Danbury, Conn., FuelCell
Energy services over 45 power plant sites around the globe that have
generated more than 108 million kilowatt hours, and conducts R&D on
next-generation fuel cell technologies to meet the world's
ever-increasing demand for ultra-clean distributed energy. For more
information on the company, its products and its worldwide commercial
distribution alliances, please see http://www.fuelcellenergy.com .
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