Washington Utility Provider Douglas PUD Turns to Renewable Hydrogen for Backup Power
Washington State Utility Advances Energy Efficiency and Environmental Objectives Using the GenCell G5™ Hydrogen-Fueled Backup Power Solution
Petah Tikva, Israel – July 15, 2021 – GenCell Energy, (TASE: GNCL), a leading Israel-based manufacturer of fuel cell energy solutions, today announces that Douglas PUD, the Douglas County Public Utility District, located in East Wenatchee, Washington, will deploy the GenCell G5™ hydrogen-fueled alkaline fuel cell, a resilient, zero-emission backup power solution. The G5 will run on renewable hydrogen produced by the PUD’s own hydrogen production facility to provide a failsafe, green, long-duration and weather-resistant auxiliary power supply.
Douglas PUD is a not-for-profit public utility which has a long history of generating clean, renewable electricity from the Wells Hydroelectric Project, a unique hydro-combine providing capacity of 840MW from Wells Dam. It provides the community with reliable service at low rates, while meeting its commitment to prudent and effective environmental stewardship to protect and preserve the Wells Dam watershed.
Douglas PUD elected to use its excess electricity to make and sell renewable hydrogen gas which can be used for consumer and industrial purposes, including the operation of the GenCell backup power solution. To this end, the utility initiated construction of a renewable hydrogen production facility and a new substation. They looked for a proven and highly resilient backup solution for the substation that could supply utility-scale fuel cell functionality and comply with all the strictest IEC, ISO, IEEE and OSHA safety and quality certifications for utilities. After considering other solutions, Douglas PUD determined that GenCell was able to meet all of its specifications and its G5 will run on the hydrogen fuel produced by their new facility. PUD will also deploy the GenCell IoT Remote Manager software to monitor the mission-critical equipment, readying the system for an emergency and optimizing its performance.
“Douglas PUD has always been an innovator in the utility industry. As the state looks toward low and zero emission technologies, our customer-owners want their local PUD to be prepared for the future,” explained Gary Ivory, General Manager, Douglas PUD. “Part of that preparation includes the ultra-reliable, weather-resistant GenCell G5 electrochemical generator that leverages innovative alkaline fuel cell technology to run on our renewable hydrogen for substation back-up power.”
“We are extremely excited to be a part of this landmark project and to work with Douglas PUD to scale up the U.S. hydrogen economy,” commented Rami Reshef, CEO GenCell Energy. “Climate conditions are causing utilities across the United States to invest in hardening the grid and in many cases, this involves using backup diesel standby generators, which are expensive and environmentally unfriendly. We are very proud to supply Douglas PUD with a failsafe hydrogen backup power solution that is fully aligned with their sustainability goals and will enable them to consume the renewable hydrogen produced on-site, at the lowest possible emissions, highest reliability and maximum energy and cost efficiency.”
To read a more detailed version of this release expanding on the technical details of the hydrogen-fueled backup solution for the substation switchyard battery, click here.
About Douglas Public Utility District
Douglas County PUD’s mission is to provide the best possible utility services at the lowest possible cost consistent with sound business principles.
About GenCell Energy
GenCell Energy (TASE: GNCL) fuel cell solutions offer affordable, clean power for humanity, enabling businesses to Say No to Diesel and render diesel generators obsolete. Using ultra-reliable fuel cell technology that powers spacecraft, we deliver backup power for utilities, homeland security, healthcare and automated industries. Our revolutionary process to create hydrogen-on-demand from anhydrous ammonia (NH3) enables our fuel cell solutions to also provide primary power for off-grid and poor-grid sites, as well as rural electrification. GenCell Energy numbers more than 95 employees, including veterans of space and submarine projects. The company is headquartered in Israel with a worldwide distribution and support network and retains unique intellectual property that includes patents, trade secrets and know-how.