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(Port of Houston, TX - June 15, 2001) In the first Houston area public demonstration of pollution-free technology, a 3,000-watt (3kW) hydrogen fuel cell was used today to power sophisticated air quality monitoring equipment used by Texas' environmental agency.
HARC COO Dan Davis applauds work of Texas Fuel Cell Partnership.
At a brief ceremony at the Port of Houston, Chairman Robert J. Huston of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) unveiled the technology which uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and emits water as its only byproduct.
The demonstration project will power all the equipment in a Continuous Air Monitoring (CAM) Station at the Port. The project is a joint effort of The Texas Fuel Cell Partnership, a public-private sector collaboration which spearheaded the delivery of a 3kW fuel cell by DCH Technology, manufactured through its EnableTM Fuel Cell subsidiary. Unocal, Inc., via funding through DCH, is sponsoring the Houston project to further the commercialization and field testing of fuel cell applications. Praxair, Inc. is providing the hydrogen fuel. The Port of Houston Authority is providing site management for the project. And the Houston Advanced Research Center is providing technical support. Other partners include the TNRCC, Texaco Energy Systems Inc., EnableTM Fuel Cell Corporation, Air Products Corporation, IPS MeteoStar, the Texas Railroad Commission, and the Texas State Energy Conservation Office.
Members of Texas Fuel Cell Partnership pose in front of CAM Station that will monitor air emissions at the Port of Houston.
"We are delighted to be part of the Texas Fuel Cell Partnership," said Dan Davis, HARC executive vice president and COO. "I particularly want to commend The Port of Houston for taking a leadership role in exploring how fuel cells can reduce air pollution in maritime applications."
Davis explained that HARC is also working with the Port of Houston in another area that seeks to determine how fuel cells can be used to generate clean auxiliary power for docked ships. Both the 3kW CAM station and berthed ship projects have obvious implications at the national level, he said.
Fuel cells are clean power generators that are highly efficient, reduce transmission losses, and can operate with a variety of fuel sources including natural gas, methane gas, and propane. The goal of the 3kW CAM station pilot project is to increase awareness of fuel cell technology and to demonstrate the air quality, energy conservation and reliability benefits of fuel cells. The next phase of the demonstration project will involve the use of "reformer" technology to convert hydrocarbon fuel into electricity to power the air quality monitoring equipment.
Herbert J. Hannam (l), systems engineer with Enable Fuel Cells Corporation, points out the unit's features to Dan Davis of HARC.
HARC's Fuel Cell Research and Applications Center, directed by Pete Parsons, was created in July of 1998 to respond to a growing demand for clean power generation products. HARC is currently involved in a number of demonstration projects that are focusing on promising fuel cell technologies that address the needs of its sponsors.
For information regarding membership in the Texas Fuel Cell Partnership, contact Ken Zarker at 512/239-3145. For press information, contact Patrick Crimmins, TNRCC, at 512/239-5000 (Pager 512/606-3026). For information about HARC, contact Barbara Peyton, 281-363-7908.
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| Page Updated/Reviewed: 06/15/2001 |
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