Breakthrough Technologies Institute - Fuel Cells 2000

Web: www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/ecodev
Texas Energy Center
www.txec.org
The Texas Energy Center is a consortium of private companies and public sector entities
working together to advance Texas’s potential as a leader in energy-related innovation
and commerce. Specific focus areas are ultra-deepwater, petroleum exploration and
production applications; advanced natural gas technologies; clean coal, hydrogen and
next generation “zero emissions” power plants; advanced automotive fuels and
infrastructure (including low sulfur gasoline, clean diesel, biofuels, natural gas, hydrogen
and hydrogen blends); fuel cells; and wind power. The Energy Center has been partially
funded through the Texas Enterprise Fund. As a condition of the funding agreement, the
Center has committed to creating 1,500 new jobs in Texas by 2009 and maintaining
these jobs until 2019. Fort Bend County and the city of Sugar Land have also provided
funding to the Energy Center.
Contact:
Texas Energy Center
Web: www.txec.org
8. STATE AND LOCALLY-SUPPORTED DEMONSTRATIONS
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: A 5-kW fuel cell-powered, uninterrupted
power source (UPS) system was used to provide uninterrupted power at the Dallas/Fort
Worth International Airport‘s (DFW) central plant. Phone lines downloaded all utility
operational data, and the Texas State Energy Conservation Office has access to this
database for real-time monitoring of natural gas, water and electric consumption
production and consumption activity of the fuel cell.
CAM Station, Houston: In 2001, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
conducted a project to power all the equipment in a continuous air monitoring station
using fuel cell technology. Powered by a 3-kW fuel cell, Phase I demonstrated the use
of hydrogen to power the CAM station and Phase II involved the use of a reformer to
convert propane–natural gas into electricity. The fuel cell project was an effort among
several organizations including the Port of Houston, the Texas Railroad Commission and
the Texas State Energy Conservation Office.
Texas Department of Transportation, San Antonio: This Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality project demonstrated the first propane-to-hydrogen fuel processor
integrated with a fuel cell to supply electrical power to the grid. Using a Plug Power 5kW
PEM fuel cell, this project operated from January-April 2004, producing electricity to
feed into the grid at the Texas Department of Transportation TransGuide Intelligent
Transportation System in San Antonio. Project partners included City Public Service,
San Antonio; Railroad Commission of Texas; State Energy Conservation Office; Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality; Texas Department of Transportation; and DOE.
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