Fuel Cells Powering Buildings

A grocery store in Albany, NY became one of the first to have electricity generated from a fuel cell. A fuel cell works like a battery that combines hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity. It is different than a battery however because it supplies power as long as it is supplied with hydrogen and oxygen. It can also heat buildings and water. Fuel cells are beneficial because they produce much less pollution than power plants. This store is using a 400-kilowatt PureCell fuel cell made by U.T.C. Power. It supplies about 90% of the store's electrixity in thr winter by heating. And it should suuply about half of the electricty in the winter.

For vice president Benny Smith of the Golub corporation which owns this store says that this was the best option. The company began investing in fuel cells in 2007 when electricity prices rose in the Northeast. Fuel cells not only efficiently supply electricity but they give a positive cash flow. Plus, during blackouts the fuel cell will constantly supply eletricity so people can keep shopping and bringing in more money.


After seeing the many positive outcomes of using a fuel cell to power an entire building, I definitely think more buildings should adopt this idea. It could drastically help reduce the carbon emissions contributing to global warming. Plus, even though it may have a high initial cost, in the long run it will end up costing less. Electricity prices will continue to rise and buildings with fuel cells will be able to avoid this problem.

Woody, Todd. (2010 January 28) Albany Grocery Powered by a Fuel Cell. The New York Times. Retrived from http://www.nytimes.com