FuelCell Energy Inc. (FCE, Danbury, CT) announced the dedication of a fuel cell power plant, its Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plant, to operate on coalmine methane gas at a ceremony at the AEP Ohio Coal LLC Rose Valley Site in Hopedale, OH. The purpose of the project, which is co-funded by the US Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, is to demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of methane from coalmines to generate electricity cleanly and efficiently.
The project is demonstrating a 200kW DFC power plant at the AEP Ohio Coal LLC Rose Valley Site, which is about 60 miles west of Pittsburgh and is operated by Northwest Fuel Development Inc. The power plant uses approximately 55,000ft³ to 80,000ft³ per day of a coalmine methane gas containing 42% to 47% methane. American Electric Power (AEP) is purchasing the electricity generated at the site under a power purchase agreement between Northwest Fuel Development and AEP.
