FuelCell Energy and Toyota have successfully completed the world’s first Tri-gen production system at Toyota’s Port of Long Beach operations, capable of producing renewable hydrogen.
The system, owned and operated by FuelCell Energy, is capable of producing renewable hydrogen, renewable electricity, and water from directed biogas, with Toyota set to supply the products under a 20-year purchase agreement.
Tri-gen plays a pivotal role in advancing the global initiative to curtail carbon emissions. Furthermore, it positions Toyota Logistic Services (TLS) Long Beach as the company’s inaugural port vehicle processing facility in the United States to be powered exclusively by on-site generated, 100% renewable energy.
The system is expected to produce up to 1,200kg per day of hydrogen for TLS Long Beach’s light-duty fuel cell electric Mirai fuelling needs, and also supply hydrogen to the nearby heavy-duty refuelling station, with the hydrogen production capable of being ramped up and down based on requirements.
Chris Reynolds, Chief Administrative Officer at Toyota, said, “By utilising only renewable hydrogen and electricity production, TLS Long Beach will blaze a trial for our company.”
The Tri-gen system can also produce 2.3MW of renewable electricity to support TLS Long Beach operations at the port, which processes around 200,000 new Toyota and Lexus vehicles per year, and produce 1,400 gallons of water per day, which will help decrease the use of constrained local water supplies by approximately half a million gallons per year.
Altogether, Tri-gen’s carbon neutral products are anticipated to reduce more than 9,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the power grid each year. It will also help avoid more than six tonnes of grid nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
Jason Few, FuelCell Energy CEO, said, “By working with FuelCell Energy, Toyota is making a powerful statement that hydrogen-based energy is good for business, local communities, and the environment.”
The Port of Long Beach CEO, Mario Cordero, added, “The renewable hydrogen generated by the Tri-gen system that Toyota commissioned, and similar projects, is part of our multi-strategy approach to help fuel the transition of equipment like locomotives, harbour craft, cargo-handling equipment and trucks to zero emissions.”
