Sutter Health’s Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital’s on-site compact fuel cell unit generates up to 70 percent of the hospital’s electric power, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management website.
The fuel cell system was the deciding factor in the system’s decision to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold rather than Silver certification for the hospital, according to Sutter Health’s program manager, Tom Minard.
The solid-oxide fuel cell technology uses an electrochemical process to turn natural gas and air into electric power without using combustion.
Occupying a space roughly the size of two parking spaces in a Sutter Santa Rosa parking lot, the unit is sized to generate 375 kilowatts of power continuously. Minard said the hospital hasn’t incurred any operational burdens because of the technology. It's monitored via the Internet for preventive maintenance and repairs.
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