A model PC25 power plant from ONSI Corp. recently began supplying supplemental power in the new Conde Nast Building at 4 Times Square in New York City. During the next blackout in New York City, when this building remains lighted, it should provide some powerful publicity for fuel cells. (source)
The PC25C is a 200 kilowatt natural-gas-powered fuel cell manufactured by International Fuel Cells, a unit of United Technologies Corp. As one of the few commercially available units it has been used in a number of other locations, including high profile military and business applications. Like other fuel cells, the PC25 is much less polluting (particularly for carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulates or soot) than combustion-based power sources.(source)
Thanks, doug. Interesting topic.
Many buildings provide auxiliary generating systems for backup/emergency situations. It looks as if fuel cells have good potential for such a niche application. I have doubts that they'll ever prove to be economicly more efficient than large, central generating power plants, but they're an absolute necessity in emergencies.