Stewart & Stevenson Completes World's Largest Molten-Carbonate Fuel Cell Power Plant

Strategic Insights -

Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc., a leading manufacturer of diesel and gas turbine powered equipment, has completed and shipped a major part of the world's largest molten-carbonate fuel cell power plant to Unocal Corporation in Brea, California. The fuel cell power plant is a demonstration project funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and is designed to test the fuel cell's potential as an alternative power generation source. The plant consists of a fuel cell stack built by M-C Power Corporation and a plant module built by Stewart & Stevenson. The module portion of the power plant, built at Stewart & Stevenson's Harrisburg manufacturing facility, is one of two fuel cell demonstration projects, with the second power plant scheduled for shipment in late 1995.

Key Takeaways:

  • The world's largest molten-carbonate fuel cell power plant has been completed and shipped by Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. to Unocal Corporation in Brea, California.
  • The fuel cell power plant is a demonstration project funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and is designed to test the fuel cell's potential as an alternative power generation source.
  • The plant consists of a fuel cell stack built by M-C Power Corporation and a plant module built by Stewart & Stevenson.
  • The module portion of the power plant was built at Stewart & Stevenson's Harrisburg manufacturing facility and is one of two fuel cell demonstration projects.
  • The second power plant is scheduled for shipment in late 1995 and will be tested at the Naval Air Station Miramar, hosted by San Diego Gas & Electric Company.
  • Fuel cells can be engineered, packaged, and marketed just like diesel and gas turbine generator sets, according to Mike Andrews, vice president of Stewart & Stevenson.
  • Fuel cells are an environmentally friendly way of producing electricity, eliminating nitrous oxide (NOx) and other harmful emissions.

Statistics:

  • The fuel cell power plant has a capacity of 250 kW.
  • The plant consists of a fuel cell stack and a plant module.
  • The module portion of the power plant was built at Stewart & Stevenson's Harrisburg manufacturing facility.
  • The second power plant is scheduled for shipment in late 1995.
  • The fuel cell's basic principles involve an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing electrical energy and water.

Sources:

  • Business Wire. Houston--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 1, 1994. Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc.
  • Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. NASDAQ: SSSS
  • Unocal Corporation, Brea, California
  • Department of Energy (DOE), Washington, D.C.
  • M-C Power Corporation, Burr Ridge, Illinois
  • Bechtel Corporation, San Francisco, California
  • San Diego Gas & Electric Company, San Diego, California
  • Naval Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California