October 11, 2006
FONTANA – Southland air quality officials today unveiled a groundbreaking
near-zero-emission fuel cell and low-emission microturbine project that is
reducing emissions and energy costs at TST Inc.’s aluminum foundry in
Fontana.
“This is the first use of a fuel cell at a large industrial manufacturing
facility in Southern California,” said Dennis Yates, South Coast Air Quality
Management District Governing Board Member and Chino Mayor.
“This project will illustrate to Southern California industrial companies
that there are practical, near-zero emission alternatives to burning fossil
fuels for generating electricity on-site.”
Fuel cells convert hydrogen-based fuels including natural gas into
electricity without combustion or moving parts. The primary byproducts of
fuel cells are water and heat, meaning they are clean and efficient without
burning fossil fuels.
First developed to power spacecraft, fuel cells now are being
demonstrated in a wide range of applications from passenger cars, trucks and
buses to commercial buildings and homes.
The fuel cell and microturbine combination at TST Inc. will reduce the
amount of utility-supplied power used by the facility by about 60 percent,
which saves money and lowers demand on the power grid. Microturbines at the
facility will function as an additional source of electricity.
The high efficiency fuel cells will not only reduce smog-forming nitrogen
oxides and volatile organic compounds, but the wastewater generated by the
fuel cell process will be recycled and used to cool aluminum from the
factory, thereby reducing water usage. The high-temperature exhaust from the
fuel cells and microturbines will also be captured and reintroduced into the
process to further improve the overall system efficiency. These technologies
demonstrate how industrial processes can benefit from reducing smog-forming
emissions, reduce greenhouse gases through energy efficiency, and provide
stable on-site power.
This $4.2 million venture is one of a number of projects currently being
co-funded by the AQMD to expedite the implementation of advanced
technologies and clean burning fuels in the Southland to achieve air quality
standards. AQMD co-sponsored this project along with California Public
Utilities Commission Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), FuelCell
Energy, Alliance Power, U.S. Department of Defense Climate Change Fuel Cell
Program, and the California Cast Metals Association. The microturbine
project is supported by an SGIP grant from Southern California Gas Company.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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