FuelCell Energy has taken significant strides in its Korean market re-entry by forging relationships with domestic clean energy electric utilities that have installed FuelCell Energy power platforms.

The company signed a long-term service agreement (LTSA) with Noeul Green Energy on July 27 and has also established a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gyeonggi Green Energy, both aimed at the continuation of stable fuel cell operations and advancing eco-friendly power generation in Korea.

Noeul Green Energy and Gyeonggi Green Energy will enjoy the same superior service FuelCell Energy has provided Korean Southern Power Company since installing a 20-megawatt (MW) FuelCell Energy power platform in 2018.

“Through this LTSA and MoU, we are delighted to continue building our relationships with leading generation companies in the Seoul metropolitan area and support their clean energy power delivery commitments in Korea,” said Jason Few, FuelCell Energy President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Moving forward, Noeul Green Energy and Gyeonggi Green Energy will receive best in class customer service, and benefit from the technology advances integrated into our next generation stack modules. We will continue to enhance our technology, improve stack life as we have demonstrated since our first commercial product launch in 2003, and improve system efficiency, contributing to sustainable and efficient energy production.”

The LTSA with Noeul Green Energy marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between the two companies, focused on ensuring uninterrupted fuel cell operation at the power plants, a reduction in emissions and improved service delivery.

The site contains eight SureSource 3000 carbonate fuel cell platforms, operating at an output of 20 MW, enough to power around 43,000 households and produce 82-B kcal of clean heat per year, supplying heat to around 6,500 households. Through this LTSA, the replacement of the 16 modules and operations of the power plant over the next 14 years will be overseen by FuelCell Energy. The Noeul Green fuel cell park, capable of producing approximately 150-MM kWh/yr of eco-friendly electricity, has been in operation since December 2016.

Noeul Green Energy CEO, Ko Chang-suk said, “FuelCell Energy's ongoing efforts to enhance profitability for their utility partners through initiatives like extending fuel cell lifespan and improving energy efficiency are highly commendable, fostering mutual benefits. Leveraging the LTSA with FuelCell Energy, Noeul Green Energy is committed to fulfilling its original role as an eco-friendly power plant while also exploring possibilities for transitioning into a clean H₂ power plant in the future.”

In addition to the LTSA, FuelCell Energy signed a MoU with Gyeonggi Green Energy. Located within the Hwaseong Balan Industrial Complex in Korea, Gyeonggi Green Energy houses a 58.8-MW fuel cell park, the largest fuel cell power platform operating anywhere in the world, equipped with 21 SureSource 3000 2.8-MW fuel cell platforms.

With the capacity to supply electricity to approximately 135,000 households, it can generate up to 460,000 MWh of power. It also produces approximately 250-B kcal of medium-temperature water for heating purposes annually, which can be supplied to around 20,000 households.

Gyeonggi Green Energy CEO Kim Dae-young, said, “As a provider of fuel cell technology, FuelCell Energy is a practical technological partner for our H₂ fuel cell power generation project at Gyeonggi Green Energy. We are committed to playing a leading role and making every effort as FuelCell Energy's representative business partner in showcasing a diverse range of forward-looking H₂ fuel cell technologies in Korea.”

“Ultimately, we aim to welcome the era of the H₂ economy and low-carbon society, presenting the future landscape of South Korea's new energy industry with eco-friendly and highly efficient decentralized energy sources,” said Kim.