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 the sale of a 1.4 megawatt (MW) DFC1500 fuel cell power plant to G3 Power Systems, Inc. (G3). The power plant will be installed at Olivera Egg Ranch, LLC, a poultry ranch located in French Camp, California. It will utilize renewable biogas for fuel, converting what is currently a waste problem for Olivera Egg Ranch into clean electricity that is generated at the point of use. FuelCell Energy will service the power plant under a five year service agreement. The sale of this power plant represents the first order by G3 under an agreement with FuelCell Energy, Inc. that provides non-exclusive distribution rights for fuel cell power plants.
The waste stream from the poultry operation emits ammonia, methane and other gases, resulting in both environmental and economic disposal challenges. Olivera Egg Ranch presently uses a solid waste lagoon for waste disposal. An anaerobic digester will be installed and the waste stream will be directed into this structure where heat and microorganisms will reduce the volume of waste and create methane gas as a byproduct. The fuel cell power plant will utilize 100 percent of this methane waste byproduct as fuel to generate renewable electricity. The power plant emits virtually zero harmful pollutants such as NOx, SOx and particulate matter due to the lack of combustion in the fuel cell electrical generation process.
"This pioneering fuel cell power plant project demonstrates my commitment to the environment, enabling me to convert the waste stream from my poultry operations into biogas, which in turn is processed into clean, green power," said Ed Olivera, Owner of Olivera Egg Ranch, LLC. "My waste disposal costs will decrease as will my power bill as the poultry operation will continually generate the fuel needed to create electricity, reducing the amount of electricity needed from the electrical grid."
The power generated by the fuel cell power plant will be adequate to meet approximately all of the power needs of the Olivera Egg Ranch facilities. The byproduct heat from the fuel cell energy conversion process will be directed to the anaerobic digester, avoiding the need for a combustion-based boiler to provide the necessary heat for the anaerobic digester process and increasing the overall efficiency of the fuel cell power plant while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The power plant is expected to be operational by mid 2011.
Olivera Egg Ranch is a third generation family farm producing approximately 14 million cartons of eggs per year for stores and restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded in 1949, the operation has three locations producing and distributing chicken, duck, quail and goose eggs.
"We evaluated all of the power generation options available in the marketplace today and identified fuel cell power plants as the best commercial technology available to meet baseload power needs in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner," said Ray Brewer, President, G3 Power Systems, Inc. "We have identified a number of opportunities in agriculture along with other commercial opportunities that are well suited for fuel cell applications and look forward to developing our relationship with FuelCell Energy to grow the market for fuel cells in California and other western states."
G3 provides complete turn key fuel cell installations along with engineering and construction services and power purchase agreements. G3 has completed 14 energy projects including fuel cells, solar and biomass applications, and is currently under contract to design three different fuel cell projects, each of multiple megawatts. The firm is located in Novato, CA and was founded in 2009. FuelCell Energy, Inc. entered into an agreement with G3 in March, 2010 that provides non-exclusive distribution rights for fuel cell power plants.
"Renewable biogas applications, such as this project for Olivera Egg Ranch, demonstrate how a fuel cell can help food processing and agricultural operations manage their waste streams, improve their economics and generate clean electricity," said Chip Bottone, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of FuelCell Energy, Inc. "Converting agricultural waste into renewable biogas and then into clean power is a large market for fuel cells."