FuelCell Energy has announced the completion of its Tri-gen system to produce renewable electricity, renewable hydrogen, and water from directed biogas at Toyota's Port of Long Beach operations.
Under a 20-year purchase agreement, FuelCell Energy and Toyota have partnered to supply the system’s products. To be utilized to scale hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology, FuelCell Energy's Tri-gen will make Toyota Logistic Services (TLS) Long Beach as its port vehicle processing facility powered by onsite-generated, 100% renewable energy.
“By working with FuelCell Energy, Toyota is making a powerful statement that hydrogen-based energy is good for business, local communities, and the environment,” said FuelCell Energy CEO, Jason Few.
The fuel cell technology will support Toyota's operations at the port through an electrochemical process, which converts directed renewable biogas into electricity, hydrogen, and usable water with an efficient, combustion-free process without emitting air pollutants. Tri-gen produces 2.3 MW of renewable electricity, which will be utilized partly by TLS Long Beach operations, known to process about 200,000 new Toyota and Lexus vehicles annually.
The Tri-gen system is not only capable of producing up to 1,200 kg/day of hydrogen to support TLS Long Beach's fueling requirements for its incoming light-duty fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) Mirai, but can also supply hydrogen to the nearby heavy-duty hydrogen refueling station for TLS logistics and drayage operations at the port.
Tri-gen's hydrogen production process will co-produce 1,400 gallons of water for TLS Long Beach car wash operations, thereby reducing the use of constrained local water supplies by approximately half a million gallons per year.
While Tri-gen's carbon neutral products are expected to reduce more than 9,000 tons of CO2 emissions from the power grid each year, it will also help avoid more than six tons of grid NOx emissions and can reduce diesel consumption by more than 420,000 gallons per year with hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks in port operations.
"Renewable hydrogen is an important fuel for the future of the Port of Long Beach and the shipping industry," said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. "The renewable hydrogen generated by the 'Tri-gen' system that Toyota commissioned, and similar projects, is part of our multi-strategy approach to help fuel the transition of equipment like locomotives, harbor craft, cargo-handling equipment and trucks to zero emissions."
Under the California Bioenergy Market Adjustment Tariff program, excess electricity not used by TLS will be delivered to the local utility, Southern California Edison.
