STM Power Inc. (Ann Arbor, MI) announced completion of its beta product assembly of its hydrogen-enabled technology, 50 external combustion, Stirling-cycle, PowerUnits. The 1.2MW fleet is the largest deployment to date of commercial-sized, external combustion engines using STM technology. Each of the 25kW electricity-generating PowerUnits is powered by heat energy transferred by high-pressure hydrogen in STM's Stirling-cycle engine. The hydrogen is constantly monitored and replenished using STM's proprietary software combined with a hydrogen electrolysis unit.
"We are very pleased with the successful completion of our beta assembly program," said Thomas Hazlett, president and CEO of STM. "This is a major milestone in our country's development of ultra-low emission engines that produce electricity and hot water. Our products can burn any type of fuel, including hydrogen. They are in full compliance with new California standards for nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons."
Commercial PowerUnits will be available for delivery starting in July 2003 in configurations from 55kW to multiple megawatts. Each 2003 model PowerUnit produces 55kW of 480Vac electric power and 10 gallons of hot water per minute at a 72-degree rise in water temperature. Initial marketing focus is on installations at landfills, wastewater treatment plants and agricultural digesters, which generate low quality methane. Further efforts are expected to sell PowerUnits to police and fire stations, hospitals and schools in conjunction with the infrastructure needs of the Department of Homeland Security.
