FuelCell Energy gets $15.5 million R&D grant

DANBURY — The federal Department of Energy has awarded a $1.5 million grant to FuelCell Energy, which is headquartered in Danbury and has a manufacturing plant in Torrington.

Members of Connecticut’s legislative delegation in Washington announced the awarding of the grant Thursday.

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both D-Conn., along with U.S. Reps. John Larson, D-1, and Elizabeth Esty, D-5, said in a joint announcement the grant “is a testament to FuelCell Energy’s commitment to developing costeffective and environmentally responsible energy solutions.”

“These federal dollars to support R&D will keep FuelCell Energy on the forefront of innovation,” the lawmakers said in a statement. We remain committed to advancing efforts that support Connecticut jobs and promote a cleaner, more energy-efficient future.”

Tom Gelston, FuelCell Energy’s vice president of investor relations, said the research and development is being done by the company’s Advanced Technologies team, which is separate form the company’s core business.

Tony Leo, vice-president of Advanced Applications & Technology Development for the company, said the research is designed to develop ways to use excess heat generated by nuclear power plants to produce hydrogen using high temperature electrolyzers.

“When solid oxide cells are used for electrolysis — using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, the opposite of fuel cell operation — they are capable of producing hydrogen much more efficiently than currently available technology,” Leo said. “In other words, they need much less power to produce a given amount of hydrogen. A solid oxide electrolysis system can run even more efficiently if it is given thermal heat energy in addition to electricity: The heat can help keep the cells at the right temperature, freeing up electricity that is normally used for temperature management to be used to make more hydrogen.”

Federal agencies are looking for ways to better integrate the nation’s electric grids with increasing intermittent levels of renewable energy, Leo said.

“The Department of Energy is promoting the idea of sending excess nuclear power (and heat) to high temperature electrolyzers to produce hydrogen during low demand periods,” he said. “They need some place to put power when demand is low.”