News

LIPA Dedicates Combined Fuel Cell/Solar Power System

March 29, 2005 by Jeff Shepard

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA, Hauppauge, NY) dedicated the first combined use of solar power and fuel cell systems on Long Islan at the Local 25 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers headquarters in Hauppauge. A combination of alternative energy technology systems, the 15 kW solar power system and 5 kW fuel cell unit will provide electric power and domestic hot water to the facility.

The 5 kW fuel cell system is part of LIPA's on-going Clean Energy Initiative research and development program, and will operate as part of LIPA's electric grid. The fuel cell, manufactured by Plug Power Inc. (Latham, NY), converts the energy of natural gas and an oxidant (air or oxygen) into useable electricity. No particulate matter, nitrogen or sulfur oxides (NOx or SOx) are produced.

In the event of an electrical outage, the fuel cell is capable of operating independent of the electric grid delivering 110 V at 50 A, to supply electricity to critical loads and emergency lighting throughout the facility. The 15 kW roof-top solar power system consists of 81 photovoltaic panels in a three-array configuration that converts sunlight into electricity. Over the expected life of the solar panels, the electricity generated will displace 563,000 lbs of carbon dioxide, 749 lbs of nitrous oxide and 2,458 lbs of sulfur dioxide.