Clean Energy Boost – Hospital for Special Care and Bloom Energy Commission 600 kW Fuel Cell
June 18, 2020Clean Energy Boost for Hospital for Special Care
Hospital for Special Care and Bloom Energy Commission 600 kW Fuel Cell
NEW BRITAIN, Connecticut (June 17, 2020) – Hospital for Special Care (HFSC) and Bloom Energy commissioned a 600 kilowatt fuel cell installation on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 on the hospital’s New Britain campus. Construction of the fuel cell has continued on the hospital campus throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and will help reduce energy costs at the nonprofit hospital by more than $130,000 each year.
“Energy has a critical impact on our operations,” said Laurie Rudman, Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer. “With up to 80 pediatric and adult patients relying on ventilators at any given time, energy is truly a lifeline here. This project will help us reduce our operating costs and allow us to be good environmental stewards.”
The solid oxide fuel cell technology produces electricity without combustion using a highly efficient electrochemical process. The servers use almost no water and generate virtually none of the smog-forming particulate emissions that cause air pollution and respiratory distress. The installation now places Hospital for Special Care in a position to greatly reduce its environmental impact and benefit the entire community by:
- Reducing 443 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually – the equivalent of 1 million+ miles of greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles
- Avoiding 91 million gallons of water consumption annually
Project teams from both organizations were on hand to commission the 600 kW system.
About Hospital for Special Care
Hospital for Special Care (HFSC) is the fourth largest, free-standing long-term acute care hospital in the U.S. and the only one in the nation serving adults and children. HSC is recognized for advanced care and rehabilitation in pulmonary care, acquired brain injury, medically-complex pediatrics, neuromuscular disorders including ALS research, spinal cord injury, comprehensive heart failure and comprehensive inpatient and outpatient treatment for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Located in New Britain and Hartford, CT, HFSC operates inpatient and outpatient facilities serving Southern New England and the Tri-State area on a not-for-profit basis. For the latest news and information, please visit www.hfsc.org, and follow us on Facebook @HospitalforSpecialCare.