Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, IL) and FuelCell Energy Inc. (FCE, Danbury, CT) announced the first joint sale of an ultra-low emissions fuel cell power generation plant in the state of California. The 250kW Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plant will be used by the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD), which expect the new plant to provide energy cost savings compared to current utility rates in the Los Angeles area.
The sale, completed by Quinn Power Systems Associates, the Caterpillar dealer representing a portion of southern California, will include site engineering and installation of the FuelCell Energy DFC300A power plant and related equipment. The LACSD are a group of independent special districts serving about 5.4 million residents living in Los Angeles County. The LACSD, which treat about 530 million gallons of wastewater each day, are industry leaders in recovering and utilizing biogas and biomass byproducts from waste to generate electricity.
The LACSD plan to install the fuel cell unit at its Palmdale Water Reclamation Plant in northwest Los Angeles County. Delivery of the unit is expected in the fourth quarter of 2004. The LACSD is receiving $1,125,000 in renewable incentive funding for the project from the California Public Utilities Commission. Full financial details of the sale were not disclosed.
