The installation, in Fountain Valley, utilizes a Direct FuelCell^® molten carbonate power plant manufactured by Connecticut-based FuelCell Energy. The fuel cell power plant is operating under a three-year contract, and is maintained by FuelCell Energy.

Air Products, FuelCell Energy, and the National Fuel Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine are the leading participants in the initiative.

The project is supported by the California Air Resources Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Southern California Gas Company, and the US Department of Energy, which provided partial funding.

‘Hydrogen represents a viable fuel source for transportation that significantly reduces emissions and greenhouse gases compared to internal combustion engines,’ says Ed Kiczek, Global Director for Hydrogen Energy Systems at Air Products.

Kiczek continues: ‘As this project demonstrates, it can be generated domestically in a renewable manner, pointing to sustainable US energy independence.’

Biogas is generated continuously by OCSD's wastewater treatment process. The DFC fuel cell power plants convert this biogas into hydrogen, which is then used to generate power. The excess hydrogen obtained from the biogas that is not used to generate electricity is routed to the nearby hydrogen vehicle fueling station, installed by Air Products.

The FuelCell Energy power plant is generating 250 kW of electric power – enough to power about 200 average homes – and sufficient renewable hydrogen to fuel approximately 25 fuel cell vehicles per day.