FuelCell Energy, Inc. completed site construction and commencement of commercial operations (COD) for its project on the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut on December 16, 2022, according to a news release.
Achieving commercial operations of this project adds 7.4 MW to the company’s generation operating portfolio, bringing the total to 43.7 MW, although the project will operate at approximately 6 MW during the first year of operation.
“We are excited to announce COD of our grid resiliency and micro-grid ready clean energy project at the U.S. Navy Submarine Base, bringing cleantech innovation to our country’s most critical infrastructure,” said Jason Few, president and chief executive officer, FuelCell Energy. “FuelCell Energy is proud to deliver a solution that supports the Navy’s decarbonization goals while encouraging clean energy partnerships and policies that enable the deployment of crucial grid modernization technology needed for the electrical grid in Connecticut and around the world.”
The project is financed in part through a previously announced tax equity financing transaction with East West Bank for $15m contributed to the project over three years.
This milestone partnership is East West Bank’s first fuel cell project, a testament to the value proposition of FuelCell Energy’s differentiated clean energy platforms.