The Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) is set to receive a significant gift that will contribute to UConn\u2019s goal of carbon neutrality.<\/p>\n
InfraPrime \u2013 an international company that empowers its clients to reach carbon neutrality goals, and eventually carbon negativity \u2013 is donating eight solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) units to UConn. The units are versatile in their fuel choices, capable of directly generating electricity at a high efficiency from a variety of fuels, including hydrogen, ammonia, hydrocarbons, and biomass. When operating reversibly, those units can be used to produce hydrogen from water or convert CO2 to fuels.<\/p>\n
Each individual unit is roughly the size of a dishwasher. Once delivered, they will be installed at C2E2 on the Depot Campus and at the Engineering Science Building at UConn Storrs to offer advanced research and training opportunities for UConn faculty members and students.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis incredibly generous donation by InfraPrime not only shows how much of a difference philanthropy can make in shaping educational and technological advancements, but also creates the opportunity for UConn to become a leader in advancing the understanding and application of solid oxide fuel cell technology,\u201d says UConn President Radenka Maric. \u201cWith the global fuel cell market expected to reach nearly $37 billion by 2030, and with solid oxide fuel cells one of the fastest growing segments of the market, it\u2019s critical for UConn and Connecticut to play a major role in the future of this clean energy technology. This transformative gift moves us closer to that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
InfraPrime founder Alberto Ravagni said the units are derived from commercial units, of the same type that powered Microsoft\u2019s Advance Energy Laboratory and Data Center in Seattle. The installation received a DCD Award doubling the efficiency of energy delivery to the servers.<\/p>\n
Microsoft is a pioneer in the use of fuel cells to power data centers and to eliminate diesel back-up. According to the company\u2019s official blog, fuel cells are increasingly being used for data centers for back-up and prime power.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we just witnessed \u2013 using fuel cells to replace diesel generators – was, for the data center industry a moon landing moment,\u201d writes Sean James, Microsoft\u2019s director of data center research. \u201cWe have a generator that produces no emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n
InfraPrime is scaling-up the concept of Utility Availability Zone, where the grid interactive data centers and utilities cooperate in maximizing the benefits of the clean energy assets and in accelerating the transition to 100% of electricity consumption, 100% of the time matched by zero carbon energy.<\/p>\n
Ravagni says that InfraPrime fuel cells technology partner Fuel Cells Innovation will support the advancement of SOFC and SOEC technology at C2E2, marking the initial stride towards establishing product development and manufacturing operations in Connecticut.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same microgrids used for the data center can provide zero carbon, reliable energy to a town or university,\u201d Ravagni says. \u201cEverybody wants to have power that is resilient, reliable, and affordable.\u201d<\/p>\n