EERE supported the development of the world's first tri-generation station—a combined heat and power system that produces hydrogen in addition to heat and electricity—in Fountain Valley. The system runs on natural gas and biogas generated by the Orange County Sanitation District's wastewater treatment facility. Hydrogen produced by the fuel cell system is sent to a fueling station that is able to support 25 to 50 fuel cell electric vehicles. The fuel cell system also produces 250 kilowatts of electricity to power the wastewater treatment facility. The project was developed as a partnership between the Energy Department, California Air Resources Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, the Orange County Sanitation District, Southern California Gas Company and private industry. The project is managed by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., and additional partners include FuelCell Energy and the National Fuel Cell Research Center.

Positive Impact

EERE supported the development of the world's first tri-generation station—a combined heat and power system that produces hydrogen in addition to heat and electricity.

Location

Fountain Valley, California

Partners

California Air Resources Board, Orange County Sanitation District, Air Products, FuelCell Energy, Inc. and the National Fuel Cell Research Center

EERE Investment

$2.2 million

Clean Energy Sector

Sustainable transportation

The Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) conducts comprehensive efforts to overcome the technological, economic, and institutional barriers to the widespread commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cells.