UTC Power clicks on Calif. fuel cell

South Windsor energy equipment provider UTC Power started its latest fuel cell at 10 a.m. today at a California grocery store.

The Clairemont Albertsons is one of the first in California to generate nearly 90 percent of its electricity needs from a 400-kilowatt fuel cell from the South Windsor company, which is under the United Technologies Corp. umbrella in Hartford.

The project is estimated to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 478 metric tons each year at the 55,000 sq. ft. facility. The emissions reduction equals removing 82 cars from the roadways per year.

Fuel cells combine oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity, heat and water without burning fossil fuels. Byproduct heat from the fuel cell process will be captured and used to warm water used in the store, heat the store when necessary and to power a chiller to help cool the refrigerated food, resulting in an overall energy efficiency of approximately 60 percent.