fuel cell diagram
Natural gas-fired power plants are the workhorse (#1) producer of electricity in the U.S. Roughly 40% of all electricity produced in this country comes from burning natural gas. However, gas-fired power has emissions (other than carbon dioxide) that make it not the best fit for urban areas. Officials in Connecticut have found an alternative to gas-fired power. The alternative is a fuel cell, which also uses natural gas but doesn't burn it. In Bridgeport, Connecticut, developers are repurposing contaminated brownfield sites for fuel cell energy facilities, exemplified by Dispatch Energy’s new 4-megawatt plant at the former Bunnell Block. The average Combined-Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) produces 500-1,000 MW of electricity. Simple-Cycle Combustion Turbines (SCGT) or "Peakers" often produce 50-150 MW. So, the fuel cell alternative at just a few megawatts is much smaller. However, fuel cells, with very little emissions, can work well in urban areas.
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