The US Navy's submarine base in Groton, CT, will soon have long-term power supplied by two power plants from FuelCell Energy. The energy company is working with the submarine base via a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Connecticut Municipal Electric Cooperative, which in turn will work with Groton Utilities to implement the power supply, according to the Danbury Times.The Department of Defense seeks to add resiliency and grid independence to its key military installations; two of FuelCell Energy's SureSource 4000 plants will give a total output of 7.4 megawatts for a long-term, cost-effective and clean power supply, while ensuring continuous power to the base's critical infrastructure. When power goes out elsewhere, fuel cells will keep the power running without the momentary lapse of electricity that can occur before backup power kicks in.
FuelCell Energy says its "enhanced-efficiency fuel cell system" is designed for utilities, large industrial users, data centers, and other customers focused on clean power driven by the economics of high system electrical efficiency.
LED lighting has been used on US Navy ships for two years. Former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus directed in April 2015 that brighter, longer-lasting, and more energy-efficient lighting be installed in US Navy ships under construction as part of a strategy designed to help increase their time on-station and decrease time spent on maintenance.
