State grant supports campus study of fuel-cell technology applications

he campus was recently awarded a $150,000 grant by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to study the feasibility of developing a fuel cell-driven premium power supply for its facilities.

     MTC, the state's development agency for renewable energy, made the award from the $150 million Renewable Energy Trust.

     UMass is examining fuel cell technology to address issues of electric power capacity, reliability and quality in older buildings, as well as new high-tech data centers.

     According to University officials, facilities that could benefit from a fuel cell-based premium power system range in size from 60,000 to 330,000 square feet and in electrical loads from 450 to 1,500 kilovolt-amperes (kVA). If the project moves forward, students and faculty will participate in the implementation and provide public education on the new technologies, said Patrick Daly, associate director for Utilities at Physical Plant.

     "This grant is a great opportunity to study the use of new technologies to address 'real-world' power quality and reliability applications, while also offering the UMass community a chance to conduct research on the design and operation of a fuel cell," said Daly. "We believe that involving the academic areas could serve to fulfill the educational goals of the university and to advance knowledge of fuel cell technology."

     According to Daly, the MTC grant will support three efforts:

     Conducting a cost-benefit analysis including potential funding sources, installation costs, operating costs and savings, and other benefits;

     Preparing schematic designs of a fuel cell system, including electrical power system integration and integration of waste heat systems with other thermal systems; and
Developing an implementation plan including faculty and student involvement.

     "We are investing in projects that advance renewable energy solutions throughout the Commonwealth," said Mitchell Adams, executive director of MTC. "Fuel cells are at the cutting edge of technology in the renewable energy field. Working with leaders from academia, industry and government we are supporting projects that will produce valuable research and case studies to make future applications of these technologies even more successful."

     "Once again, UMass Amherst is on the cutting edge," said Sen. Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst). "The University officials who laid the groundwork for this grant deserve a lot of credit, and I appreciate the MTC's willingness to make this important investment."

     Funded by a monthly charge on customer electric bills, the Renewable Energy Trust is part of the state's strategy to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources by encouraging the use of renewable technologies. The trust has earmarked $110 million in grants, loans, and other financial support for renewable energy projects in Massachusetts.

For more information about MTC, visit its Web site (www.masstech.org).