DANBURY, Conn., Oct. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCEL) has been contracted by EDF Energy for a project exploring the viability of using hydrogen to decarbonize asphalt production.

The Bay Hydrogen Hub consortium, which is made up of EDF, Heidelberg UK, the National Nuclear Laboratory, and Vulcan Burners, proposes combining the use of FuelCell Energy’s 1-Megawatt Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) with nuclear generated heat and electricity to produce hydrogen in bulk at a lower cost than other hydrogen electrolysis technologies.

FuelCell Energy President and CEO Jason Few commented, “Solid oxide electrolysis is ideal for producing hydrogen from nuclear power sources. The already high efficiency of solid oxide electrolysis systems can be raised even higher using waste heat from the nuclear power plant, lowering the cost per kilogram of the hydrogen produced.”

FuelCell Energy Vice President of Business Development Andrea Miserocchi added, “We are proud to showcase how FuelCell Energy’s technology is notably different from other low-temperature electrolysis systems (e.g., alkaline and PEM) that produce around 20% to 35% less hydrogen for the same power input. To put this in perspective, if electricity costs 10 cents/kWh, that efficiency difference results in approximately $1 (0.82£) to $1.50 (1.23£) lower hydrogen cost with FuelCell Energy’s SOEC platform.”

FuelCell Energy’s electrolyzer will be analyzed for use at the Nuclear Power Plant in Heysham (Northwest England) as part of the Bay Hydrogen Hub project, which endeavors to decarbonize the asphalt industry by distributing that hydrogen via high volume tankers to dispersed sites.

The UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced £6.1m ($7.4m) for the Bay Hydrogen Hub scheme, a figure that will be matched by the project partners. The funding is from the UK government’s £1 billion ($1.2b) Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP), which provides funding for low-carbon technologies and systems.

Over the coming months, the project partners will develop the site design for integrating FCE’s electrolyzer system into the overall hydrogen generation and compression station, and scope and estimate the work required at Heysham to move the project forward. Once this work concludes, a decision on the future of the project will be made. 

About FuelCell Energy

FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL): FuelCell Energy is a global leader in sustainable clean energy technologies that address some of the world’s most critical challenges around energy, safety, and global urbanization. It collectively holds more than 450 fuel cell technology patents in the United States and globally. As a leading global manufacturer of proprietary fuel cell technology platforms, FuelCell Energy is uniquely positioned to serve customers worldwide with sustainable products and solutions for businesses, utilities, governments, and municipalities. The Company’s solutions are designed to enable a world empowered by clean energy, enhancing the quality of life for people around the globe.

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FuelCell Energy

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Kathleen Blomquist
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