FuelCell Energy to Supply Direct FuelCell Power
Plants to California Utility
Enters Into Contract With PG&E to Deliver 2.8 MW
DANBURY, Conn., June 3, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL)
a leading manufacturer of high efficiency ultra-clean power plants using
renewable and other fuels for commercial, industrial, government, and
utility customers today announced that Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E) has ordered two 1.4 Megawatt DFC1500 fuel cell power plants to
install as utility-owned fuel cells on the campuses of California State
University East Bay – Hayward Hills (CSU – East Bay) and San Francisco
State University (SFSU). The total value of these contracts is
approximately $12.6 million, which will include engineering, procurement
and construction services for the installation of the power plants.
This order follows the recent approval by the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) for PG&E to pursue utility owned fuel cell
installations at two California universities. The CPUC approval
acknowledged that the installation of fuel cells on university campuses
will help to advance the development and understanding of fuel cell
technology. Further, the CPUC noted the important role of fuel cells in
the State's future energy mix, as illustrated by the support of Governor
Schwarzenegger for fuel cell projects.
"Just as California is serving as a model for the rest of the nation in
enacting ambitious policies to reduce climate change and our dependency
on oil, these partnerships are also leading the way in moving us toward
a cleaner, more sustainable future," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Fuel
cells are another great resource to provide clean and efficient energy
while reducing emissions. I applaud all of these groups for coming
together and working towards a shared solution of helping to power these
campuses with clean energy."
The fuel cell power plants will be configured to utilize the by-products
of the fuel cell energy conversion process, including waste heat and
waste water to meet campus needs. CSU East Bay plans to utilize the
waste heat for heating a swimming pool and utilize the waste water for
landscape irrigation. SFSU plans to utilize the waste heat for facility
management. The fuel cell plants are expected to be operational in 2011.
In conjunction with the installation of the fuel cell power plants, the
state universities are expected to incorporate fuel cell technology into
their respective curriculums to teach students and the public about the
benefits of fuel cell systems.
"We are excited to be working with PG&E to be providing a utility owned
power generation solution that is highly efficient and ultra-clean,"
commented R. Daniel Brdar, Chairman and CEO of FuelCell Energy, Inc.
"Universities are an ideal location for our fuel cell power plants,
particularly with the Combined Heat & Power (CHP) application that
captures the heat byproduct for use by the university. This type of CHP
application has attained efficiency levels approaching 80%, well above
alternate methods for generating electricity."
About FuelCell Energy
DFC® fuel cells are generating power at over 50 locations worldwide. The
Company's power plants have generated over 500 million kWh of power
using a variety of fuels including renewable wastewater gas, biogas from
beer and food processing, as well as natural gas and other hydrocarbon
fuels. FuelCell Energy has partnerships with major power plant
developers and power companies around the world. The Company also
receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and other government
agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as fuel
cells. For more information please visit our website at
www.fuelcellenergy.com
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding the Company's plans and expectations regarding the
continuing development, commercialization and financing of its fuel cell
technology and business plans. All forward-looking statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected. Factors that could cause such a
difference include, without limitation, general risks associated with
product development, manufacturing, changes in the regulatory
environment, customer strategies, potential volatility of energy prices,
rapid technological change, competition, and the Company's ability to
achieve its sales plans and cost reduction targets, as well as other
risks set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein
speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates
or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the
Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Direct FuelCell, DFC, DFC/T, DFC-H2 and FuelCell Energy, Inc. are all
registered trademarks of FuelCell Energy, Inc. DFC-ERG is a registered
trademark jointly owned by Enbridge, Inc. and FuelCell Energy, Inc.
CONTACT: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Kurt Goddard, Vice President Investor Relations
203-830-7494
ir@fce.com
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