Plug Power, Latham, N.Y., recently sold nine of its 5kW fuel cell systems to Johnson Controls, to be installed at three U.S. Navy facilities in California. The systems are expected to be installed in September and will operate for one year under this program.
The combined heat and power (CHP) grid parallel, natural gas-fueled, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel systems will provide electricity and will heat hot water in the bachelor-enlisted quarters, a gymnasium and laundry facilities at the Naval Air Station North Island and Submarine Base located in San Diego. The Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls is under contract to the Navy Renewable Energy Division at the Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake, Calif.
The sale comes after the California Energy Commission in June certified Plug Power’s 5kW stationary fuel cell system as compliant with the requirements of the state’s Rule 21 grid interconnection standard.
“The purchase of these systems represents the first major investment by the U.S. Navy in this technology and will showcase installations that can be duplicated on most military facilities,” says Chuck Combs, manager for renewable energy programs, Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, Calif.
