Mount Pleasant-based WATT Fuel Cell, a solid oxide fuel cell stacks and systems manufacturer and developer, in partnership with Essential Utilities, a water, wastewater service and natural gas provider, have installed a WATT HOME solid oxide fuel cell system in Peoples Natural Gas’ Western Pennsylvania service territory. Peoples Natural Gas serves approximately 740,000 homes and businesses in Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky.
“The partnership with WATT is the latest in a series of innovative concepts championed by Peoples to meet modern-day energy demands,” Peoples President Michael Huwar said. “The WATT HOME system’s groundbreaking technology has the potential to protect homeowners from volatility in power generation, offering a reliable, resilient and sustainable energy solution that leverages our region’s abundant natural gas supply.”
Peoples plans to install the WATT HOME system in multiple company field offices. The system converts natural gas into electricity using a electrochemical process without combustion. Advantages include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased efficiency, and a smaller physical footprint. It also is quieter than standard backup power generators.
The system will be used as a back-up that will provide a dependable source of electricity and minimize the impact of grid outages. Annually, U.S. electricity customers experience approximately 5.5 hours on average of electricity interruptions.