Oct 25 2010
Coca-Cola Refreshments USA (CCR) today announced that operations at its Elmsford, New York production facility are being powered by two UTC Power fuel cells.
UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. company (NYSE: UTX), installed and is operating two PureCell® Model 400 fuel cell systems that provide 35 percent of the electricity and heat required by the facility. The clean, efficient power plants will help the Company lower its energy costs and further its sustainability efforts, specifically around energy conservation and water stewardship.
A ceremony to commission the fuel cells was attended by leaders from Coca-Cola Refreshments USA and UTC Power, and representatives of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which provided funding to support Coca-Cola's fuel cell project.
"By producing clean power on-site with fuel cells, Coca-Cola Refreshments will reduce the amount of electricity drawn from the utility grid, which will result in less air pollution and greater water savings," said Neal Montany, director of UTC Power stationary fuel cell business. "UTC Power is delighted to be associated with CCR and we are proud that our fuel cells are helping CCR achieve its sustainability goals."
The UTC Power fuel cells on-site at CCR are capable of operating independent of the local utility power company. If there's a large-scale power outage in the Elmsford area, the fuel cells will allow select operations to continue at the facility, while grid power is being restored.
Fuel cells are one of the cleanest energy-generation sources available in the world and meet the strictest U.S. emission standards. Highly energy efficient and virtually pollution-free, fuel cells produce electricity, heat and water through an electrochemical process. Coca-Cola Refreshments will prevent the release of more than 2,635 metric tons of carbon dioxide and more than 4 metric tons of nitrogen oxide emissions by using the fuel cells instead of non-base load utility power plants.
With its proven phosphoric acid-based fuel cell technology, the Model 400 boasts an industry best 20-year product life with a 10-year stack life, overall system efficiency of up to 90 percent, and is designed to operate in water-balance -- no consumption or discharge of water in normal operations -- saving millions of gallons of water when compared to central generation and other fuel cell technologies.
"Coca-Cola is focusing on implementing green innovations and initiatives to reduce our Company's overall environmental footprint at each step of our operations," said John Lacey, Sales Center Manager. "Use of these fuel cell systems at our Elmsford facility is one way in which we are working to achieve our 2020 environmental goals."
Coca-Cola has demonstrated a strong commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability in New York and at facilities outside of New York. The company recently signed a contract to install two more UTC Power fuel cells at its bottling plant in East Hartford, Conn.
"Coca-Cola Refreshments is to be commended for working to reduce its environmental impact by choosing clean, efficient fuel cells to support its Elmsford operations," said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. "As NYSERDA works to assist companies seeking cleaner fuel options, we hope Coca-Cola's use of innovative fuel cell technologies will serve as a model for industries and manufacturers all across New York State."
Source: http://www.utcpower.com/