I have Pepperidge Farm to thank for my Goldfish addiction, and now I’d like to thank the company once again for making strides towards sustainability. Earlier today, Pepperidge Farm dedicated the largest fuel cell plant in the United States at its Bloomfield, CT bakery. The 1.2 MW plant will supply 57 percent of the 260,000 square foot facility’s power.
The new plant is Pepperidge Farm’s second foray into fuel cells— the company opened a 250 kW plant in 2006. Together, the two fuel cell plants will provide 70 percent of the bakery’s power. Excess heat from the new fuel cell will be used to support bakery processes, thereby reducing the fuel needs of plant boilers.
Pepperidge Farm’s new DFC fuel cell was built by Fuel Cell Energy, Inc. The cell operates at 47 percent electrical efficiency. When excess heat from the cell is used for bakery processes, it operates at up to 80 percent efficiency. In addition to lowering power costs for the company, the fuel cell will also drastically reduce CO2 emissions from the facility.
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