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Fuel Cell Technology
An example of Chevron's commitment to new technologies is the
corporation's stationary fuel cell generation project at its headquarters in
San Ramon, California. Chevron Energy Solutions designed, engineered and
installed the project for the corporate data center—the first commercial site
in the San Francisco Bay Area to be powered by a fuel cell.
Why Install a Fuel Cell?
The fuel cell installation enables Chevron to:
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Provide a clean, quiet and reliable independent power source for critical
electric loads
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Demonstrate an efficient technology that involves no combustion, recovers heat
and clean water for multiple uses, and reduces demand on the local electricity
grid
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Monitor and analyze fuel cell performance relative to conventional power
technologies in a commercial application
The fuel cell application is designed to support critical data and retail
transaction systems that require full load operation 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. In the event of a disruption on local utility lines, which also deliver
power to the data center, special switching equipment ensures the fuel cell
will continue to provide electricity to these systems without interruption.
How the Fuel Cell Works
Through an electrochemical process, the 200 kW fuel cell power plant separates
hydrogen (supplied by natural gas, a hydrocarbon fuel) into its basic elements
and combines it with oxygen from the air, creating electricity, clean water and
usable heat. The electricity powers a portion of the data center, and the water
and heat provide hot water and space heating for nearby buildings.
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