The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) will begin the installation of 17 Plug Power Inc. fuel cells at several locations on Long Island this summer. The 5-kW fuel cells will be interconnected to LIPA’s grid and will operate in a combined heat and power mode, providing electricity and heat on-site at select LIPA customer locations. Operation of these systems, which will be powered by natural gas, will enable evaluation of the integration of fuel cells at the specific point of need. By the end of 2002, LIPA also will instal three 5-kW DC backup power systems, operating on hydrogen, at facilities on Long Island. This will allow an initial assessment of fuel cells as a backup generation source. LIPA also will expand the operation of fuel cells connected to the electric grid at its West Babylon substation through introduction of Plug Power fuel cell systems that have increased life and functionality. The deployment of Plug Power’s stationary unit (2002 design) at the West Babylon site will support continued assessment of fuel cell integration into the existing utility electric grid and development of remote dispatch capability for distributed power sources.
