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FuelCell Boosts Plant Output 20% in Same Footprint

FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NasdaqNM:FCEL) has announced an advanced cell stack design that boosts the power output of its Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plants by 20 percent. The company is incorporating the enhancement across its entire line of power plants. By improving thermal management of electrochemical activity within the stack, the company has increased the power output from each cell and can produce more electricity from the same basic power plant components. The 20 percent increase in electric power output, combined with the company’s progress in its value engineering and ongoing cost-reduction programs, are integral to achieving FuelCell Energy’s $3,200-3,500/kilowatt (kW) cost target at the end of this calendar year for its DFC3000 power plant. “We continue to realize results from our comprehensive cost reduction efforts,” said R. Daniel Brdar, FuelCell Energy President and CEO. “With additional technology-driven improvements we have under development, value engineering, supply chain development, and economies from volume production, we are positioned to meet the power needs of the broad market.” “Today’s milestone demonstrates the ability of our people to execute our product development and cost reduction plans and is a major step in realizing the commercial potential of our products,” he said. “Our talented and dedicated […]

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Northern Power Gets More DoE Funding

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Northern Power, a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp. (Nasdaq: DESC), a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to continue development of key modular construction technologies necessary to build 5-megawatt to 8-megawatt wind turbines. In announcing the $750,000 award, Northern Power said the project builds on a Phase 1 SBIR design study recently completed by the company, which confirmed the viability of these enabling, modular construction approaches. Wind power represents the fastest growing segment of the world’s energy markets, and this rapid growth has led to a significant increase in the power rating and size of wind turbines. Large turbines currently being developed for on-shore and off-shore applications offer economies for utility-scale wind farms, further lowering the cost and environmental impact of creating significant sources of alternative energy. With blade lengths of 60 meters or greater and tower heads often weighing more than 450 tons, shipping, installing and maintaining larger turbines is becoming a serious challenge. Northern Power’s Phase 2 contract with the DOE covers manufacturing details and assembly techniques for permanent magnet generators and power converters, in order to improve the viability of large-scale wind power both on and […]

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Action Alert: 30% Small Wind Investment Tax Credit

The U.S. House and Senate have introduced bills to create a 30% tax credit for the purchase of small wind systems used to power a home, farm or small business. Please contact your Members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor this legislation. Website: http://capwiz.com/windenergy/issues/alert/?alertid=8902746&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]     

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US BLM Approves Largest Federal Wind Energy Project

Kathleen Clarke, Director of the Bureau of Land Management, has announced completion of an environmental review of the largest wind energy project on Federal land in the last 25 years. Approval of the Record of Decision (ROD) and right-of-way grant for the Cotterel Wind Power Project on 4,500 acres of BLM-managed public land clears the way for the installation of up to 98 turbines on a ridge in south-central Idaho five miles east of Albion in Cassia County. The 200 megawatt (MW) project will generate enough electricity to supply approximately 50,000 homes. Promoting wind energy is a high priority for the Bureau in its efforts to enhance energy security by expanding opportunities for developing alternative, domestic sources. “This project represents the kind of diversification of America’s energy supply that is a key component of President Bush’s energy policy,” Clarke said. “We are committed to encouraging wind energy production on public lands, while at the same time minimizing environmental impacts.” The Cotterel right-of-way grant includes important measures for mitigating the effects of wind generation on wildlife resources. Best Management Practices (BMPs), offsite mitigation, and adaptive management strategies will be incorporated into the project to address impacts to sage-grouse, raptors, bats, and […]

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