- Highly
efficient and environmentally friendly power generation for Federal
Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) office complex in
Berlin
- BMBF
office complex achieves highest possible 'Gold Certificate' under
Sustainable Building for Federal Buildings (BNB) rating
system
DRESDEN, Germany, Dec. 12, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)
-- FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH, a provider of ultra-clean,
efficient and reliable fuel cell power plants, today announced the
final acceptance of its first German-manufactured fuel cell power
plant that is installed and operating at Berlin's Federal Ministry
of Education and Research (BMBF) office complex. BAM Deutschland AG
constructed the office complex, which achieved a gold certificate
sustainability rating recognizing sustainable practices
incorporated into the design and operation of the office complex.
FuelCell Energy Solutions built the fuel cell plant at its
manufacturing facility in Ottobrunn, Germany and is operating and
maintaining the power plant on behalf of BAM
Immobilien-Dienstleistungen GmbH under a long term service
agreement. This building project, executed on schedule and within
budget, illustrates the first large-scale civil engineering project
undertaken by the federal government as part of a public-private
partnership.
"The Federal Ministry of Research values
sustainability as new innovations increase energy efficiency and
help reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Rüdiger Frischer, Press
Officer at BMBF. "We deliberately chose a sustainable energy
management system for the Ministry complex. The high efficiency of
the fuel cell power generation process is a critical aspect of this
sustainability system, using about a third less fuel compared to
conventional power generation alternatives. Additionally, the fuel
cell plant enables the Ministry complex to be about 50 percent
below relevant energy saving regulations."
The highly efficient and ultra-clean fuel cell
power plant is the cornerstone of the sustainable energy management
system that also includes solar arrays for meeting peak energy
demand when the sun is shining and a natural gas engine for peak
power when solar is not available. "The fuel cells, as the heart of
this innovative energy concept, contribute largely to the reduction
of the fuel demand of the building complex," said to Markus Koch,
head of the building contractor BAM Deutschland GmbH.
"This installation, located inside an office
complex in central Berlin, showcases the ability of fuel cells to
meet power load requirements for a large facility, cleanly,
quietly, and with an economically compelling value proposition,"
said Chip Bottone, President and Chief Executive Officer of
FuelCell Energy, Inc. and Managing Director of FuelCell Energy
Solutions GmbH. "Stationary fuel cell power plants are well-suited
for both commercial applications as well as utility grid-support as
their high electrical efficiency makes them an affordable solution
that is not dependent on the weather or time of day to produce
power."
The power plant is configured for a combined heat
and power (CHP) application to enhance the system's efficiency and
provide the office complex with continuous electricity and usable
high quality heat for heating and absorption chilling. The fuel
cell power plant generates approximately 40 percent of the
facility's electrical needs and 20 percent of thermal needs. The
virtual absence of pollutants, quiet operation and lack of
vibrations enables fuel cell power plants to be located in
populated areas and within buildings, such as this installation.
The on-site power generation acts as a micro-grid, enhancing energy
security for the complex as power is available even in the event of
a grid outage.
"This installation exemplifies our goal at
FuelCell Energy Solutions, which is to offer full-service and
affordable distributed power generation solutions that satisfy our
customers' energy and sustainability needs," said Andreas Froemmel,
Vice President Commercial and Business Development, FuelCell Energy
Solutions GmbH. "We have a long term service contract with BAM for
the monitoring, operation and maintenance of the power plant
including a power output guarantee."
The installation of the fuel cell power plant
combined with extensive building efficiency features that support
the sustainability of the BMBF complex resulted in the awarding of
a gold certificate from the Sustainable Building for Federal
Buildings (BNB) ranking system, the highest level achievable. Under
this system, gold, silver and bronze certifications are awarded to
buildings based on a variety of sustainability criteria including
ecological, economic, sociocultural and functional, technical and
process quality.
Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plants solve energy,
environmental and business-related power generation challenges by
providing ultra clean, efficient and reliable distributed power
generation. The fuel cells combine a fuel such as natural gas or
renewable biogas with oxygen from the ambient air to efficiently
produce ultra-clean electricity and usable high quality heat
through an electrochemical process. Virtually no pollutants are
emitted due to the absence of combustion. Avoiding the emission of
nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur
dioxide (SOx) and
particulate matter (PM10) supports
clean air regulations and benefits public health. The high
efficiency of the fuel cell power generation process reduces fuel
costs and carbon emissions, and producing both electricity and heat
from the same unit of fuel further supports favorable economics
while also promoting sustainability.
FCES, with its German manufacturing base, is the
sales, manufacturing and service business for the European Served
Area for FuelCell Energy, Inc. FCES is a joint venture between
Fraunhofer IKTS Fraunhofer IKTS and FuelCell Energy
(Nasdaq:FCEL).
About
FuelCell Energy Solutions, GmbH
FuelCell Energy Solutions manufactures, sells,
installs, and services stationary fuel cell power plants that
efficiently and economically generate electricity and usable high
quality heat suitable for making steam. Administrative offices are
located in Dresden, Germany and manufacturing operations are
located in Ottobrunn, Germany. Continuous power generated at the
point of use with the virtual absence of pollutants supports energy
security and power reliability as well as sustainability
initiatives. Ultra-Clean baseload distributed generation is
attractive to electric utilities, universities, hospitals,
government facilities, industrial operations and other locations
with significant power needs. For more information please visit our
website at www.fces.de
This news release contains
forward-looking statements, including statements regarding FuelCell
Energy, Inc.'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
FuelCell Energy, Inc.'s ability to achieve its sales plans and cost
reduction targets, as well as other risks set forth in the FuelCell
Energy, Inc. filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak
only as of the date of this press release. FuelCell Energy, Inc.
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release
publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect
any change in FuelCell Energy, Inc.'s expectations or any change in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is
based.
CONTACT: FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH
Andreas Froemmel
VP of Business and
Commercial Development
+ 49 351 2553 7390
afroemmel@fces.de
FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Kurt Goddard
Vice President Investor Relations
+001 203-830-7494
ir@fce.com
This
announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on
behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: FuelCell Energy, Inc. via Globenewswire
HUG#1879407
FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Mar 2024
FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024