FuelCell Energy to Supply 4.5 MW of Power Plants for Renewable Directed Biogas Project (CA)

[jpak]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fuelcell-energy-to-supply-45-megawatts-of-power-plants-for-renewable-directed-biogas-project-in-san-diego-california-2010-11-04?reflink=MW_news_stmp

FuelCell Energy, a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean high efficiency power plants using renewable and other fuels for commercial, industrial, government, and utility clients, today announced the sale of 4.5 megawatts (MW) of power plants to BioFuels Fuel Cells, LLC, a California renewable energy company owned by New Energy Capital and BioFuels Energy, LLC. Three fuel cell power plants, including a 2.8 MW DFC3000, a 1.4 MW DFC1500 and a 300 kilowatt DFC300, will be installed at three different locations in the San Diego, California area and will utilize purified biogas from the Point Loma wastewater treatment plant as the primary fuel source for the generation of ultra-clean electricity. The City of San Diego will convert a waste problem into a revenue stream through this directed-biogas project.

The biogas generated at the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant represents a revenue source for the City of San Diego and a renewable fuel source for generating clean electricity with fuel cell power plants. This project incorporates a unique solution that purifies the biogas on site, and then injects the biogas into an existing gas pipeline to supply fuel cells at two different locations in the San Diego area. Termed 'directed biogas,' this project will represent the first time that a FuelCell Energy power plant will be fueled by renewable biogas generated at a distant location.

"The citizens of San Diego will benefit from this project as we protect our air quality while also generating revenue for the City," said Jerry Sanders, Mayor of the City of San Diego. "This is yet more proof that San Diego is leading the charge in the exciting world of clean energy technology."

Fuel cells generate electricity cleanly and efficiently using an electrochemical process that does not involve combustion. The lack of combustion eliminates almost all pollutants such as NOx or particulate matter. The fuel cells will replace the current gas flaring, a combustion based process that releases NOx, SOx and particulate matter and will replace electricity currently purchased from the electric grid. This project will eliminate the emission of approximately 68,100 pounds of pollutants annually, which is equivalent to removing approximately 1,136 cars from the road.

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[madokie]

1. You'd think every municipality would already be using that gas

I mean it is a lot better to use it than it would letting it just go into the wind like many waste treatment plants do. Best I remember when I done some work on a soy waste water plant and they had these huge, a close to a half inch rubber cover over their big ass ponds and they were using the gas in their plant and they are selling the excess to a power plant that is right next door. I think they have 6 ponds that are about 200 by 400 ft,

It looked and smelled just like shit too but thats for another story