Fuel Cell Project Tests Potential Power Source

The first PNGC Power fuel cell demonstration program, in partnership with BPA, ran from 1999 through early 2003. Our goal was to evaluate the ability of a fuel cell unit to supply reliable, high quality power. This type of distributed generation (DG) is expected to play a major role in the future of electrical generation. Beginning in the summer of 2003, PNGC Power continued the demonstration of fuel cell technology this time in partnership with IdaTech, a Central Oregon-based fuel cell system manufacturer, using a much smaller and more portable unit than the previous test unit. This new fuel cell allowed the continuation of the demonstration program under the auspices of PNGC Power.

Subsequently, student groups teamed up with Coffin Butte Resource Project to develop and test fuel cell technology. Three groups of students from Crescent Valley and Corvallis High Schools and chemical engineering students from Oregon State University (OSU) collaborated to learn what it will take to develop a fuel cell that will run off landfill gas. This study is part of a multi-year "Environmental Energy Recovery Project.” Other Corvallis-area business partners in the "Environmental Energy Recovery Project" include CH2M-Hill and Hewlett-Packard.

In the future, fuel cells may provide a power source that is particularly well-suited to the needs of customers with facilities in outlying areas. Rural areas tend to be more difficult and costly to serve than urban areas and we are always looking for the best ways to serve customers of our members now, as well as in the future.

In August 2011, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu voiced his support for fuel cells as an alternative energy and expressed interest in funding the research and development of fuel cells.