SF State and partners dedicate new fuel cell plant on campus

A new fuel cell plant will be dedicated Thursday, Dec. 8 at San Francisco State University, in collaboration with Pacific Gas and Electric Company who will own and operate the plant.   The demonstration project was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in April 2010 and includes the construction of fuel cell facilities on several California State University and University of California campuses.

The plant, funded by PG&E, consists of two fuel cell systems and technologies -- one manufactured by FuelCell Energy (FCE) and the other by Bloom Energy -- that generate a total of 1,600 kilowatts (KW) or 1.6 megawatts of electrical power connected directly to PG&E’s local distribution grid.
SF State invested $550,000 to connect the fuel cell plant with the campus’s heating infrastructure. The waste heat captured from the fuel cell system is used to heat campus buildings. The University will earn back its investment through an estimated $250,000 in annual savings from lower heating costs.

Reporters are invited to attend the ceremony, which will feature remarks by officials from San Francisco State University, California State University (Chancellor’s Office), PG&E and California Public Utilities Commission.

Date:                Dec. 8, 10 – 11 a.m.

Who:                San Francisco State University
CPUC
PG&E
Fuel Cell Energy
Bloom Energy

What:               Formal dedication of new fuel cell plant

Location:          San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco
Fuel Cell Plant, north side of the gymnasium

RSVP:              For directions and to RSVP, reporters may contact Elaine Bible at 415-405-3606 or ebible@sfsu.edu

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