Fujitsu Becomes First Silicon Valley Company to Install Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power (17-Aug-07)
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Full article: Fujitsu Becomes First Silicon Valley Company to Install Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power (17-Aug-07)
Fujitsu has become the first Silicon Valley company to install its own hydrogen power plant. The new hydrogen fuel cell will provide 50% of the power needed to cool the Fujitsu Sunnyvale Campus data centre and labs, hence reducing the amount of fossil fuels utilised. This move to hydrogen power is claimed to be an excellent investment for the company as the technology has a payback period of about three and a half years, and a lifespan of approximately fifteen years.
The instalment of a hydrogen fuel cell is the latest in a series of environmental initiatives from Fujitsu; other initiatives include the end-of-life product-recycling program and meeting the requirements of the EU’s RoHS standard for eliminating toxic substances. Fujitsu has made the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the past eight consecutive years.
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New Power Plant Is Clean, Sustainable and Economically Viable Step for Fighting Global Warming by Reducing CO2 Emissions
SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - August 17, 2007) - Fujitsu America, Inc. today dedicated a hydrogen fuel cell on its Sunnyvale campus. The fuel cell provides clean, efficient power for the campus data center and other operations, significantly reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Fujitsu, the first Silicon Valley company to install its own hydrogen power plant, has spent a decade making a significant, sustainable investment in enterprise-wide initiatives designed to reduce the environmental impact of its products and operations. The hydrogen fuel cell will provide 50 percent of the power needed to cool the Fujitsu Sunnyvale campus data center and labs, reducing the amount of fossil fuel that must be burned to maintain operations and easing pressure on the local power grid.
According to the EPA, data centers across the U.S. consumed about 61 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2006, roughly 1.5 percent of the total U.S. electricity consumption, and based on current trends, consumption is expected to double by 2011. The fossil fuel-burning power plants used to generate this electricity release more than 40 percent of the total U.S. CO2 emissions, a prime contributor to global warming.
"Our real-world use of the hydrogen fuel cell is a clear demonstration of the ability of corporations to make a significant and financially responsible investment in reducing harmful impacts on the environment, with the ultimate goal of reversing global warming," said Tetsuo Urano, head of American operations, Fujitsu America. "With a payback of about three and a half years and a lifespan of about 15 years, hydrogen power is an excellent investment for the company. All of us at Fujitsu have a deep commitment to environmental responsibility, and we are proud of the leadership we've shown over the years, from reducing our carbon footprint, to eliminating lead and other harmful wastes from our supply chain and products, to broad recycling and reuse programs. We will continue to invest in innovation and programs that are both good for the environment and good for our business."
The hydrogen fuel cell installed on the Fujitsu Sunnyvale campus is the UTC Power PureCell(TM) Model 200 system, featuring ultra-low emissions. It meets the most stringent air emissions standards as set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB 07). Although it utilizes natural gas, it produces 35 percent less CO2 per megawatt-hour than the average fossil fuel-based power plant, and approximately 4,000 lbs per year less NOx, the equivalent of taking more than 100 average passenger cars off the road. The system has a low sound profile at 60 decibels at 30 feet, and emits no ozone-depleting fluorocarbons. Fujitsu America will also be contributing to water conservation. When compared to conventional power plants, a UTC Power PureCell(TM) Model 200 system will save at least 800,000 gallons of water per year. Over the 15-year life of the fuel cell system, Fujitsu will leave 12 million gallons of water untouched.
"Fujitsu is a model for how large organizations can work through the process of understanding their energy requirements, researching the best solution to meet their fiscal requirements and their environmental impact goals, and then making a solid, long-term investment in a clean, efficient, cost-effective energy system," said Jan van Dokkum, UTC Power President. "Our environmentally advanced UTC Power PureCell(TM) products offer proven reliability, energy productivity and a reduced carbon footprint to benefit our customers and their communities."
The Greening of Fujitsu
The hydrogen fuel cell is just the latest environmental initiative for Fujitsu. Other corporate-wide initiatives include meeting the stringent requirements of the European Union's RoHS standard for eliminating toxic substances; establishing end-of-life product recycling programs in North America, Europe and Asia; and initiating a variety of operational and employee-based programs such as recycling, carpooling, reduced lighting, and compulsory e-learning programs on the environment. Fujitsu has made the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index eight years in a row, and the FTSE4Good Index Series five years in a row. (1)
Fujitsu currently has 16 Silver-rated LifeBook(R) mobile PC and Stylistic(R) tablet PC products registered on the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) (2). Fujitsu also has notebook computers that comply with the new stricter ENERGY STAR(R) 4.0 guidelines, and the company is an early participant in the Climate Savers Computing Initiative (3). The Fujitsu PRIMERGY(R) TX120 server currently has the world's smallest footprint of any server and PRIMERGY and PRIMEQUEST(TM) servers offer a Cool Safe Design for increased cooling efficiency. ETERNUS(R) storage systems offer Massive Array of Idle Disks (MAID) that conserve energy by powering down when not in use. Fujitsu has introduced a new 2.5-inch hard disk drive that reduces power consumption by more than 50 percent and footprint by nearly 70 percent. High-speed, RoHS-compliant document scanners allow Fujitsu and customers to reduce the use of paper in offices. And by producing technical documentation only on CD ROM and DVD, one Fujitsu division is saving 2.6 million pieces of paper per year. Fujitsu was also the first company to utilize a bio-based polymer made from corn and other plant starches in fabricating notebook PC housings.
- Source: Marketwire
