WASHINGTON — Corporate customers are increasingly turning to fuel cells to provide seamless, reliable power to high-volume data centers and other critical facilities, according to The Business Case for Fuel Cells: Reliability, Resiliency & Savings, a new report from Fuel Cells 2000. This growing list of customers includes Apple, Walmart, Microsoft, Verizon, AT&T, and other Fortune 500 companies.
The report finds that in 2013:
• More than 88 megawatts (MW) of stationary fuel cells have been installed or ordered by U.S. businesses and utilities.
• 700+ fuel cell-powered material handling vehicles have been ordered or deployed in warehouses and distribution centers around the country.
“With frequent and stronger storms coupled with unreliable grids and an ever-increasing demand for constant power, many companies are finding that fuel cells can provide resilient and reliable power while helping meet sustainability goals,” said Jennifer Gangi, program director, Fuel Cells 2000. “Fuel cells are flexible and can work inside or outside in tandem with conventional and renewable technologies, fuels, and the electric grid, or on their own, giving businesses peace of mind to trust that their valuable data and networks will keep running.”
The organization said that the businesses included in the report are finding that fuel cells are paying off — saving money on fuel and labor costs with increased efficiency and reliability while reducing emissions, noise, water use, and even size footprints.
This report is the fourth in a series. In the 2012, 2011, and 2010 Business Case reports, Fuel Cells 2000 profiled more than 70 companies incorporating fuel cells with other technologies in order to improve resiliency and achieve their sustainability goals.
To download the free report, go to www.fuelcells.org/pdfs/2013BusinessCaseforFuelCells.pdf.
Publication date: 1/13/2014
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