Lessons Learned from World's Largest Fuel Cell Installation: Connecticut Juvenile Training School

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article addresses the practical application of emerging distributed technology (fuel cells) in a real-life project under way in Connecticut. Select Energy Services, Inc. (SESI), formerly HEC Inc., has installed and is operating the world's largest commercial fuel cell installation. This 1.2-megawatt energy plant provides electricity, heating, and cooling for the state-of-the-art Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS). The discussion chronicles the creative engineering and business solutions that overcame the obstacles faced by Connecticut State agencies in constructing this project, and how state government and private industry collaborated on this technically complex project. Since going fully on line in November 2001, the plant has operated continuously for 12 months, logging 9,000 hours of uninterrupted production of power, heat, and cooling. One or more of the six fuel cells has operated continuously during that entire period, meeting all energy requirements without interruption exc...