Defense Department to Install Fuel Cell Backup Power Systems at Military Sites

The Defense Department, in partnership with the Energy Department, will install fuel cell backup power systems at eight military locations, the departments announced July 19.

The systems will be installed under a July 2010 memorandum of understanding signed by the two departments that focused on ways they could help each other with research, development, and deployment of new energy technologies (143 DER A-18, 7/28/10).

The Defense Department will install a total of 18 fuel cell systems across the eight locations. Though they are more expensive than conventional backup generators, such as those powered by diesel fuel, fuel cells ...