TECHNICAL PROFILE Enbridge & FuelCell Energy Turn Gas into Power Faunched the fist muli-megaveate con mercial fuel cell in Canada in Octobe, hosting an opening ceremony at Bnbridge’s ‘gs distribution Toronco headquarters, ‘The Calgacy- and Connecticure-based com. panies have launched the world’s first Di- tect Fuel Cell - Energy Recovery Generation (DFC-ERG) power plant, svhich produces 2.2 megawatts of environmentally prefered, tleraclean electricity ~enonigh power for ap" ‘proximarely 1,700 homes. ‘The plane uses Satcon Technology Cospors- tion's 12-MW fuel cell power conditioning, system fo deliver clean and reliable energy ¢0 satiny the requirements of the lol electeical, uly “The Enbridge project demonstrates the in creasing demand for cloan energy technologies athe wtlity see, and is 2 major achievernent toward the commercalizstion of fuel cll, sid Steve Rhoades, President and Chief Bx- ‘ecutive Officer of Satcon. “We are hanazed co be a part of this significant step in the growel cof the renewable energy industry.” Bc: Inc. and uelCell Energy Inc How the DFC-ERG Works ‘Natural gas travels long distances in pipe lines at high presture. Before i¢ can be safely dlstibueed to homes and businesses, the pressure must be reduced, Hondeds ofthese presiure reducing stations exise across On- tari. Normally ths is done by squeezing the gas through a valve, Since this process causes the gas co cool, i is usually preheated using nas fired boilers to maintain rlieble deliveries ‘of pas to consumers. Instead of using a valve which rastes he pressure energy, the DFC- BRG power plant dicects the high-pressure ‘ges cheough 4 macho expander, which harvests the waste energy for power generation much like # wind o water turbine, The integration ofthe fuel cell more than doubles che amount of low-impact elecericity thae is delivered to the elecriciey gr, and the non-combustion beac from the fuel cel elimingtes the need for the boiler and is emissions DEG-ERG bybeid fuel cell plants offer ‘onparilled efficiency gains. This diseibuted ‘generation echnology obtains its high eff- 28 Nowemer ames PROCESS ciencies by operating 24 hours a day asa com= bined heat and power plant, but it is unique in char ie converes more than 609% of the in- ‘put energy into high-value electricity. Tis és slmase double the fuel co electricity conver- sion efficiency of many distribuced generation technologies. Since ehe plane operates withour combustion, is se pollutants, like smog and particulate emissions, are expected to be less ‘han 196 of those emicced ftom power plants of simulae size. Since neeural ges pressure-reducing stations are inside, or neat, urban centres the power is ‘aenerated where i is needed most thereby re- ducing electric grid system losses. The Nozth “American markee represents 250 e0 300 MW of opportunities for DEC-ERG systems, How It Happened Support for this $10-millon breakthrough project was provided by both the federal and provincial goveraments. ‘The Canadian Govecament provided $2.3 million in fand- ing from Natural Resources Canads end the Ontario Government participated through $500,000 grant from the Ministery of Re- search and Innovation, Jn March of chis year, the City of Toronco provided farcher support by enacting a bylaw allowing residents and businesses to export clean electricity tothe grid, “This is an exciting day for clean energy technology in Ontatio and in Cansds,” said acrck D., Daaiel, Pcsdene and CEO of En- bridge Inc, "We've taken two proven, low- carbon technologies and integraced them in ‘nique way C0 increase the environmental benefits. The new technology will offer the highese natural gas-to-electriciy efficiency of aay distributed generation technology, and since ie operates without che combustion of fuel the posicr has near-2eco ae pollutants. Federal Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn praised the project as an ideal example of making che mase of waste energy. “The time is right to develop technology solucions, like this, that respond to ou envi- ronmental snd energy-related challenges and create a competitive advancage for Canada as innovators in clean energy cechaologies.” Meanwhile, R. Daniel Brdar, chairman and CEO of BuclCell Energy, said the peojct is the first of what he hopes will be many such ‘enterprises. "We're excited to be workiag with Ea- bide, a world-leading gas cistribucion com- ppeny, ro jointly develop the DEC-ERG prod tac and both companies have Been ectively promoting the technology co other gas wtili- ties” he said in a news release. “While ‘Toronto is the frst location for a DEC-ERG power plant, approximately 18 MW of DEC-ERG power planes have been selected By the Connecticut Clean Energy find as patt of Connecticu's renewable en ergy REPS. In addicion, the extension of the fuel cell investment tax credit in the United Seates will ensure thar gos uclies have an ‘opportunity co make economical investments with this clean encrgy technolog, Oy the web: bape frewcenbridge col een fiery.