Fuel cell technology has high value and opportunity to help meet the projected increase in demand and need for new generation capacity with clean and high efficiency generation located directly at the customer’s site. Distributed generation (DG) and energy storage will increase efficiency, improve end user reliability, and reduce emissions. This technology can also provide opportunities to maximize the efficiency and cost effectiveness of fuel cells with combined heat and power (CHP) applications. The use of CHP helps increase the efficiency of on-site energy use by recycling waste thermal energy for many end use applications, including hot or chilled water, space conditioning, and process heat. There is also an opportunity for tri-generation to simultaneously produce heat, power, and hydrogen for storage and/or transportation.
According to the state’s 2013 Comprehensive Energy Strategy, if Connecticut’s industry installed 10 MW of CHP annually through 2022, it would result in 100 megawatts of capacity added, resulting in cumulative savings of nearly $475 million, or net savings of over $300 million. There are significant market opportunities for fuel cells with CHP, including development at schools, hospitals, energy intensive industries, and other critical facilities.
For more information about strategic targets for fuel cell technology, click here.