Verizon Is Using Fuel Cell Technology

Verizon is using fuel cell technology to power their Garden City, Long Island facility. Producing their own energy gives Verizon more control over this aspect of their operation as well as saving them a great deal of money. The article does acknowledge that the upfront capital costs can be cost prohibitive for smaller companies.

Another advantage to using fuel cells, according to the article, is that the waste created by converting hydrogen and oxygen to electricity is water and heat. This water and heat can be used to heat and cool the building. Currently, Verizon estimates that a third of their cooling needs are provided by this waste.

Verizon has estimated that in one year they have eliminated 11.1 of carbon dioxide that would have been emitted into the atmosphere as a result of the fuel cells.

While the cost to Verizon to build the facility and operate and maintain the fuel cells was very high, they have exceeded yearly energy savings by far. They had estimated a $250,000 per year savings. In fact, the savings were $680,000.