DANBURY, Conn., Jan. 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL) a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power plants, today announced a significant milestone with one billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of ultra-clean and renewable electricity produced by Direct FuelCell® (DFC)® power plants since 2003. One billion kWh of electricity can power more than 90,000 average size U.S. homes for one year. With more than 80 DFC plants producing environmentally friendly power and usable high quality heat at more than 50 locations globally, DFC plants are eliminating the emission of a significant level of pollutants and substantially reducing carbon emissions compared to the average U.S. fossil-fuel power plant.
When compared to the average U.S. fossil fuel power plant, one billion kWh of ultra-clean fuel cell power production configured in a combined heat & power mode (CHP):
- Eliminated the emission of approximately 8,600 tons of criteria pollutants, which is equivalent to removing more than 137,000 passenger vehicles from the road
- Prevented the emission of approximately 644,600 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, which is equivalent to removing more than 114,000 passenger vehicles from the road
- Benefits public health and helps customers achieve sustainability goals by virtually eliminating pollutants including nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SOx) and particulate matter
"Our power plants are solving power generation challenges every day for our global customer base," said Chip Bottone, President & Chief Executive Officer, FuelCell Energy, Inc. "Our plants provide environmentally friendly power production where the power is used in an economically attractive manner."
"One billion kilowatt hours of power production supports our position as a global leader in ultra-clean baseload distributed power generation with a growing installed base," continued Mr. Bottone.
Fuel cells electrochemically convert a fuel source into electricity and heat in a highly efficient process that emits virtually no pollutants due to the absence of combustion. DFC power plants are fuel flexible, capable of operating on natural gas or renewable biogas. Efficiency of up to 90 percent can be achieved when the DFC plant is configured for combined heat and power (CHP) and the heat used by the customer. High efficiency reduces fuel costs and carbon emissions and producing both electricity and heat from the same unit of fuel can reduce the use of combustion based boilers used for heating, further reducing costs and pollutants.
The distributed generation attribute of fuel cells provides continuous power at the point of use, easing congestion of the transmission grid and enhancing power reliability. Customers include utilities that incrementally add power generation throughout their service network as well as municipal, industrial and government power users that value virtually emission-free on-site power generation.
About FuelCell Energy
Direct FuelCell® power plants are generating ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power at more than 50 locations worldwide. With over 180 megawatts of power generation capacity installed or in backlog, FuelCell Energy is a global leader in providing ultra-clean baseload distributed generation to utilities, industrial operations, universities, municipal water treatment facilities, government installations and other customers around the world. The Company's power plants have generated over one billion kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable biogas from wastewater treatment and food processing, as well as clean natural gas. 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.