critical power

Macy’s has installed a 600 kW Bloom Energy fuel cell system at its Connecticut distribution centre.

The Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority of Connecticut (CEFIA) assisted with a US$900,000 grant for the US$5.1 M, 600 kW project.

The Bloom Energy system uses a solid oxide fuel cell technology to produce base load electricity on-site as well as a UPS module for power outages.

Bloom Energy’s Executive Vice President of Sales, Bill Thayer, said: "This Macy's project is one of our first business continuity projects in the northeast, an area hard hit by grid outage events over the last few years".

The system will provide essential back up to the area that experienced approximately 140 hours of power outages in 2011, not including major storms.

APR Energy has acquired the power rental business of General Electric Co., Houston-based GE Power & Water, with GE to become the majority shareholder.

The acquisition is financed via cash and stock, meaning GE will own a stake in the temporary power provider. Under the terms of the deal, GE will receive US$64m in cash and 15.5 million shares of APR Energy, worth US$250m, making GE the biggest shareholder.

APR’s shares jumped 18.4% following the announcement of the deal, while rival Aggreko saw its shares dip by 1.6% following the news.

Talks began in March this year to combine the two power rental players.

Bulgarian broadcasting service, NURTS Bulgaria AD, has installed Eaton UPS systems to protect the operation of its nationwide 700+ station transmission network during the transition to digital television.

The broadcaster reviewed the energy usage of its network and identified a need to modernise its backup power supplies to protect broadcasting services against power outages and give the highest possible level of efficiency.

More than 200 UPSs of varying sizes have been installed across the network that provide online communications capabilities to network all electrical equipment in a company-wide monitoring and control system.

The challenge of the project was scheduling because transmission could not be lost during the switchover, so systems could not be taken off-line until there were substitute facilities available. Therefor, the installation and commissioning of the systems had to be seamless after the preparation work.

The solution provided by Eaton included Eaton 9130, 9135 and 9390 UPSs, with ratings from 3 kVA to 120 kVA, all of which have a double-conversion, or online, topology.

NURTS’ clients include all national media in the country, telecom operators, internet service providers, cable operators, government bodies and many private and state companies.

Eaton’s Bulgarian distribution partner, New System, delivered, installed and commissioned and worked together with Eaton on the project design.

German energy provider FuelCell Energy Solutions has delivered a fuel cell power plant to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) office complex that is being constructed in Berlin, Germany.

The power plant is configured for combined heat and power to enhance efficiency and the heat will be used to generate steam for facility heating and chilling. The fuel cell power plant will provide approximately 40% of the electrical needs and 20% of the thermal needs of the facility.

FuelCell power plants generate electricity and usable heat  by utilising an electrochemical reaction that emits virtually no pollutants. It creates no nitrogen oxide (NO_x), sulphur oxide (So_x) or particulate matter (PM¹⁰) emissions, meaning adherence to clean air regulations.

FuelCell Energy Solutions is managing the installation of the power plant and commissioning is expected in mid-2014 once construction of the office complex nears completion.

LE, formerly Light Engineering, has introduced a range of seven XLE GenSets in power ranges from 10kW to 250kW to expand its heavy-duty power generation equipment in the north American market.

The 10kW is a stationary genset with a 20-gallon fuel tank. The six larger gensets ranging from 13kW to 56kW include a trailer and 50- to 100-gallon fuel tank with oil pan and water jacket heaters.

The gensets use Perkins, Laidong and Yangdong tier 4 diesel engines with fully digital controls that enable safe shutdown to protect from damage.

Thom Reddington, Vice President of operations and engineering, sad the fuel efficiency and weather resistant enclosure adds to the value of the engines.