SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn., and ELMSFORD, N.Y. - UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. company, announced that it will supply two of its new PureCell® Model 400 fuel cell systems to provide on-site electricity and heat for Coca-Cola Enterprises’ (CCE’s) production facility in Elmsford, N.Y. The new energy and heat source will help further CCE’s sustainability efforts, specifically around energy conservation and water stewardship. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is providing funding for the project.

UTC Power will install the two fuel cell systems on-site at the CCE facility. Together, the fuel cells will generate enough energy and heat for 30 percent of the facility’s overall operational needs. They also will serve as a backup source of power in case of a utility power outage. UTC Power will own, operate, and maintain the fuel cells as part of a 10-year energy services agreement.

“At Coca-Cola Enterprises, corporate responsibility and sustainability are integral to our overall business strategy,” said Ron Lewis, vice president of supply chain for Coca-Cola Enterprises. “The fuel cell systems at our Elmsford facility will help us further our environmental commitment to our local communities, reducing our carbon footprint and our use of the local power grid.”

Fuel cells are one of the cleanest and most efficient energy-generation sources available, said UTC Power. Hydrogen and oxygen are combined in an electrochemical process to produce electricity, heat, and water. A hydrogen-rich fuel is derived from natural gas in a process called reforming.

“Bottling and production facilities such as CCE’s Elmsford, N.Y., facility are a great fit for fuel cell technology,” said Neal Montany, director, UTC Power stationary fuel cell business. “We are delighted to be associated with CCE, one of the world’s most respected companies and a leader in the area of sustainability.”

“NYSERDA is pleased to provide $2 million for this exciting project, which will showcase the substantial energy and environmental benefits of fuel cell technology and combined heat and power,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA. “Our partnership with Coca-Cola Enterprises and UTC Power will complement Governor Paterson’s comprehensive energy agenda, which will make New York the most energy-efficient state in the nation, encourage the use of renewable energy technologies, and tackle the crisis of global warming.”

CCE is also considering adding fuel cells at some of its 431 facilities across North America and Western Europe.

For more information, visit www.utcpower.com.

Publication date: 08/17/2009