Fuel Cell Technology

Fuel cells, though known in concept for more than 150 years, now are poised to make a significant contribution to stationary power generation. A fuel cell is similar to a battery in that it provides continuous power through an electrochemical process of combining hydrogen and oxygen. Byproducts of this process include: electricity, water, and heat. It is capable of generating power as long as fuel is supplied where a battery is limited to the stored energy within.
 
The City of Mesa Gas Division, Arizona Army National Guard, and the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) are partnering to demonstrate the viability and reliability of the Plug Power 5 kW GenSys® Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell. This unit is about the size of a commercial refrigerator and generates enough power and thermal energy to supply a small commercial building or an average single-family home.

The PEM fuel cell will provide the Arizona National Guard facility at 615 N. Center Street in Mesa, with an environmentally clean power supply that will run parallel with the City of Mesa’s electrical power grid. In addition, it will be used as an emergency power source should the grid be interrupted for any reason. In the event of an outage, the fuel cell power supply will feed into a critical load panel used to energize emergency equipment and lighting.

This project is a reality because of the relationship and trust between CERL, the Arizona National Guard and the City of Mesa. Mesa and the National Guard continue to leap ahead and establish themselves as fuel cell pioneers. The fuel cell dedication ceremony took place on Monday, May 16, 2005. Mayor of Mesa, Keno Hawker, National Guard General, Brigadier General Gregg Maxon, Roch Ducey, Researcher and Electrical Engineer from CERL were on hand to kick off this partnership.

Media coverage:

Business Journal - Mesa Turns on the Switch to Alternative Fuel Cells

Mesa Gets Progressive in Fuel-Cell Technology