DSM Pocket Guidebook Volume 5: Renewable and Related ... - NREL

A site has been selected in Santa Clara, California, to build the first
2-MW power plant by 1994. Six major financial participants have
pledged financial and staff support to the demonstration. Contract
negotiations have begun.
The FCCG plans to obtain orders for 100 MW of the 2-MW fuel celk
power plants that support the manufacturers' efforts to build a commercial
manufacturing facility, and begin commercial operation of
commercial units.
Electric Power Research Institute studies indicate that the market for
the 2-MW MCFC power plants is conservatively 12,000 to
14,000 MW-at a rate of 900 MW per year once commercialization
is achieved .
• INDUSTRY STATUS
There are approximately eight companies in the United States, Europe,
and Japan that are developing fuel celk .
• CONSTRUCTION LEAD TIME
Only PAFCs are commercially available now. If, as projected, fuel celk
are developed to the point of commercial competitiveness late in this
century and manufacturing capability is developed, fuel celk will be
available in modules so utilities and managers of large facilities can
add single units quickly, as demand warrants .
• ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
There are virtually no so 2 and NOX emissions. Emissions of C0 2 are
significantly lower than ather generating alternatives. Systems are
air-cooled.
There are no water pollution concerns for fuel cells. The plants are
extremely quiet because they have no moving parts. They are compact
and low far reduced visual impact .
• LAND AREA REQUIREMENTS
The land area required for a 2-MW MCFC is 4500 ft 2 (418m 2 ). Early
applications of fuel cells will probably be in dense urban areas facing
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