Situation
FuelCell Energy (FCE) had an opportunity. A world leader in the manufacturing of high- efficiency ultra-clean power plants for commercial, industrial and utility customers, the company was poised to respond to the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund* (CCEF)’s Connecticut Round 2 Project 100 Program. Under the state’s 2003 energy act, utilities are required to enter into long-term power purchase agreements for at least 100 MW of Class I renewable power.
FCE’s proposed project would integrate their new DFC-ERG™ fuel cell technology with a natural gas pressure let-down expansion turbine to achieve record electrical efficiency of up to 65%. The company needed an expert with the technical and business skills to manage a highly complex and competitive proposal process, a resource they did not have in-house.
Solution
Loria Emerging Energy Consulting was brought in as project manager to steer the proposal process, from engagement of the company’s stakeholders to mapping out the actual proposal and pulling the pieces together for a successful submission. More than 250 MW were bid into the RFP and the DFC-ERG™ Milford Project was the highest ranked, officially recommended by CCEF, and awarded a long-term power purchase agreement.
After a successful win, Loria EEC was engaged to manage the development of the 10MW project, the largest of its kind. Among the solutions provided:
- Management of all third-party preliminary engineering
- Successful navigation of the Connecticut state permitting process
- Qualified and registered the project to participate in the ISO-New England Forward Capacity Market
Results
FCE moved from an idea to a $50 million project reality. By successfully submitting a proposal that was ranked significantly higher than any of its competitors, they were awarded development of what is now the Milford Hybrid Fuel Cell Project in Milford, Connecticut. The award paved the way for the first commercial launch of their new product, DFC-ERG™, pairing 8.4 MW of DirectFuel Cell® power plants with a 1.5 MW pipeline turbo expander. The project, a partnership with Enbridge, Inc. and Southern Connecticut Gas Company, is now fully permitted and “shovel ready”. Construction is pending the final stages of financing.
Two years after their initial award, FCE continues to engage Loria Emerging Energy Consulting to support them in subsequent clean energy projects, winning a total of $120 million in new business for the company’s fuel cell products.
* CCEF is now part of Connecticut’s Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA)
