LESSONS L EARNED FROM W ORLD’ S LARGEST FUEL C ELL INSTALLATION : C ONNECTICUT J UVENILE TRAINING S CHOOL

Authors

  • James B. Redden Select Energy Services, Inc. (SESI)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/dgaej2156-3306.1821

Abstract

This article addresses the practical application of emerging distrib-
uted technology (fuel cells) in a real-life project under way in Connecti-
cut. Select Energy Services, Inc. (SESI), formerly HEC Inc., has installed
and is operating the world’s largest commercial fuel cell installation. This
1.2-megawatt energy plant provides electricity, heating, and cooling for
the state-of-the-art Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS). The dis-
cussion chronicles the creative engineering and business solutions that
overcame the obstacles faced by Connecticut State agencies in construct-
ing this project, and how state government and private industry collabo-
rated on this technically complex project.
Since going fully on line in November 2001, the plant has operated
continuously for 12 months, logging 9,000 hours of uninterrupted pro-
duction of power, heat, and cooling. One or more of the six fuel cells has
operated continuously during that entire period, meeting all energy re-
quirements without interruption except for small grid supplements.

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Author Biography

James B. Redden, Select Energy Services, Inc. (SESI)

James B. Redden, P.E., is president and chief operating officer of
Select Energy Services, Inc. (SESI), an unregulated subsidiary of
Northeast Utilities Systems. Mr. Redden has over 25 years of progres-
sive experience in energy services fields, including founding an en-
ergy services contracting firm in the late 1970s, providing project engi-
neering on some of the world’s largest buildings, providing project
management on cogeneration projects, managing utility demand-side
management programs, and profitably growing energy services busi-nesses. His career has extensively involved project development and
strategic planning. He has provided management and technical leader-
ship on utility demand-side management programs, facility conservation programs, cogeneration systems, central plant improvements, fire
safety upgrades, and diverse equipment retrofits at hundreds of facilities around the country. Active in professional societies, he has helped
to promote energy efficiency as a career and an important part of
today’s energy mix. Mr. Redden earned his BS from Cornell University, College of Engineering. Mr. Redden may be reached at
jredden@selectenergysi.com.

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Published

2003-03-15

How to Cite

Redden, J. B. . (2003). LESSONS L EARNED FROM W ORLD’ S LARGEST FUEL C ELL INSTALLATION : C ONNECTICUT J UVENILE TRAINING S CHOOL. Distributed Generation &Amp; Alternative Energy Journal, 18(2), 6–15. https://doi.org/10.13052/dgaej2156-3306.1821

Issue

2003: Vol 18 Iss 2

Section

Articles