Our versatile SureSource power plants are capable of producing multiple value streams, including the on-site production of high purity hydrogen along with ultra-clean electricity and usable heat. In a standard configuration, a fuel, such as clean natural gas or renewable biogas, is reformed inside the fuel cell into hydrogen, which then electrochemically reacts with air to generate power and heat. Our SureSource Hydrogen fuel cell power plant is configured to produce additional hydrogen beyond what is needed for power production, generating a stream of hydrogen suitable for (i) transportation or (ii) industrial applications. The SureSource Hydrogen configuration utilizes the commercial SureSource stack modules in a system that produces hydrogen and clean water in addition to power and heat.
Transportation Applications
This application helps address the need for a hydrogen fueling infrastructure by cleanly and affordably generating high-purity hydrogen in urban locations. An ideal application is installing a SureSource Hydrogen system at wastewater treatment facilities to utilize renewable biogas as the fuel source and generate power and heat for the water treatment process and renewable hydrogen for transportation. Price points are competitive with existing hydrogen generation technologies while the environmental profile is much more attractive. For example, the SureSource Hydrogen is eligible for the State of California Low Carbon Fuel Standard and is considered carbon-negative by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) due to the avoided emissions by a fuel cell electric vehicle powered by renewable hydrogen compared to a gasoline-powered vehicle.
This renewable vehicle fueling solution was demonstrated for three years at the Orange County Wastewater Treatment Plant in Fountain Valley, California. This project involved converting renewable biogas from the wastewater treatment process into ultra-clean power for the wastewater treatment facility and renewable hydrogen, which was supplied to a hydrogen vehicle fueling station. Since then, FuelCell Energy has introduced SureSource Hydrogen commercially as part of a 2.3 megawatt project with Toyota Motor Corporation at the Port of Long Beach, California. This project will produce approximately 1,200 kg of hydrogen per day, which will be used for vehicle fueling at the site.
Industrial Applications
Industrial applications, such as metal heat treating, glass manufacturing, petrochemical applications and material handling, are also good applications for clean and affordable distributed hydrogen generation.
Hydrogen production for either transportation or industrial applications via our SureSource Hydrogen generates cost savings while enhancing the reliability of supply gained from on-site generation of these multiple value streams and delivers in a manner that promotes sustainability initiatives.