Saint Francis Care expands its use of fuel cells with the installation of two PureCell® systems from UTC Power at two of its Hartford campuses

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, today announced that Saint Francis Care has installed PureCell stationary fuel cell systems at two of its campuses in Hartford to provide clean, reliable power to its facilities. The PureCell system is an on-site combined cooling, heating and power generation system that lowers energy costs, increases operational reliability and contributes to a cleaner environment. Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center has been a pioneer in the successful incorporation of fuel cells, having powered part of their main campus on Woodland Street in Hartford for the last several years with UTC Power's previous generation 200 kW fuel cell system. With these new PureCell system installations, both the main campus and the Mount Sinai campus on Blue Hills Avenue in Hartford are benefiting from the strong economic and environmental savings achieved through the use of clean, efficient fuel cell technology.

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The PureCell system is a proven solution to today's energy challenges and is in widespread use at businesses and organizations across multiple industries as it allows them to lower their energy costs, increase their energy security through grid-independent operation and reduce their impact on the environment through lowered emissions.  Hospitals are an especially strong fit for stationary fuel cells due to the nature of their 24/7 energy intensive operations.  The new PureCell system installations provide the Saint Francis hospitals with 400 kW of power at each location, satisfying 10 percent of the main campus' electricity needs and 42 percent at the Mount Sinai campus. Additionally, thermal energy from the fuel cells is harnessed to serve heating loads at both hospitals. 

"With fuel cells on each campus, it allows for a reliable power source on-site," said Robert J. Falaguerra, Vice President, Facilities, Support Services and Construction at Saint Francis.  "In addition, the high efficiency of the power plants is a way to save energy while promoting a healthy environment," concluded Falaguerra.

In fact, fuel cells are one of the cleanest energy-generation sources available and meet the strictest U.S. emission standards, making them an ideal fit for Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. By generating power on-site with PureCell systems, Saint Francis will prevent the release of more than 939 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually – the equivalent of planting more than 217 acres of trees. The reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions compared to a conventional power plant are equal to the environmental benefit of removing 137 cars from the road. In addition to the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, this PureCell System will allow the hospital to save over 2.8 million gallons of water annually, enough water to fill nearly 4 1/2 Olympic swimming pools. Unlike central generation and other fuel cell technologies, the PureCell System is designed to operate in water balance so there is no consumption or discharge of water during its operation.

"UTC Power is proud that our PureCell systems will continue to help power Saint Francis – a respected Hartford medical facility that provides world-class service to patients and families," said Joe Triompo, Vice President and General Manager of UTC Power. "The energy savings and environmental benefits offered by these PureCell systems are a great match for the hospital's progressive, compassionate health care environment."

The PureCell system is proving to be a game-changing technology for energy efficient buildings. Compared to typical central generation and other fuel cell offerings, the PureCell system offers customers lower energy costs, reduced emissions, an industry-leading 10-year cell stack durability and up to 90 percent system efficiency. This range of benefits is unique to the PureCell system and is unmatched in the fuel cell industry. Both fuel cell projects were supported by the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA). The Mount Sinai installation also received funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

About Saint Francis Care

Saint Francis Care is an integrated healthcare delivery system established by Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, an anchor institution in north central Connecticut since 1897.  Licensed for 617 beds and 65 bassinets, it is a major teaching hospital and the largest Catholic hospital in New England.  Other major entities of Saint Francis Care include The Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, the Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute, the Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute of Connecticut, the Saint Francis/Mount Sinai Regional Cancer Center, and the Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care.  Its services are supported by a network of five major Access Centers and eight additional medical office centers sited throughout the region.  For more information, visit www.stfranciscare.com.

About UTC Power

UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries.  Based in South Windsor, Conn., UTC Power is the world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate energy for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications. UTC Power has designed, manufactured, and installed more than 300 stationary fuel cells in 19 countries on six continents. For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com

Contact:  Jennifer Sager
(860) 727-2485 / 860-305-7297
[email protected]

SOURCE UTC Power