Quinnipiac University says it will install 10 fuel cells across three of its campuses as part of a clean energy initiative.
Quinnipiac has entered into a 10-year power purchase agreement with VFS Energy Services, a Michigan-based provider. Under the agreement, VFS will cover all installation and maintenance costs. Quinnipiac will buy the electricity produced by the fuel cells at a fixed rate.
Installation work has started at the university’s North Haven campus. Quinnipiac says all 10 units are expected to be operational by April 1. Six of the 10 units will be installed on the Mt. Carmel Campus, with two each at York Hill and North Haven.
“Fuel cells are a major step forward in our sustainability efforts,” said Sal Filardi, vice president for facilities and capital planning at Quinnipiac.
Filardi says that once all the fuel cells are online, the university will be generating most of its own electricity.
“We’ll still be connected to the utility grid for peak demand, but this system significantly increases our energy resilience and self-reliance,” he added.
In total, the university expects to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by over 10 million pounds annually.
