UTC Power announced that the Whole Foods Market’s new store in San Jose, California will be powered by its PureCell system. Whole Foods Market has also installed the on-site fuel cell system at its two other stores located in Glastonbury, Connecticut and Dedham, Massachusetts.
Through an electrochemical process, fuel cells produce electricity, water and heat. Pollution-free and energy efficient, these fuel cells are one of the world’s cleanest sources for the generation of electricity. The fuel cells also meet the rigid U.S. emission standards.
The fuel cell system at the 50,000-square feet Whole Foods Market’s new store in San Jose, which is under construction, will generate enough power to meet 90% of the electricity needs of the store. The thermal energy byproduct from the fuel cell system will be utilized for refrigeration, cooling and heating applications in the store to achieve a total efficiency of about 60%, which is twice the energy efficiency of the utility grid.
By using a fuel cell to generate power on-site, carbon dioxide emissions of about 370 metric tons per year is prevented by the San Jose store, which is equal to planting trees on more than 85 acres. Nitrogen oxide emissions that are equivalent to removing 92 cars from the roads are also reduced.
Kathy Loftus, global leader of sustainable engineering, maintenance and energy of Whole Foods Market, said the company is delighted to be able to use this highly efficient and clean technology at its new store in San Jose. Kathy Loftus added that the adoption of this clean technology enables the company to reduce its overall electricity demands from conventional sources and also to lessen its environmental impact.
Neal Montany, director of UTC Power's stationary fuel cell business, said the company was delighted to be partnering with a company that adopts sustainable business practices and was happy that Whole Foods Market has selected its fuel cell system to utilize electrical and thermal energy at its third store.