On November 30, during the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota Motor North America Inc. announced it will build the world’s first megawatt-scale carbonate fuel cell power generation plant at the Port of Long Beach.
Dubbed Tri-Gen, the facility will support the Toyota Logistics Services operations at the port. The facility will generate approximately 2.35 megawatts of electricity and 1.2 tons of hydrogen daily. This production is enough to power 2,350 homes and 1,500 vehicles.
Toyota Motor North America Inc. announced it will build Tri-Gen, the world’s first megawatt-scale carbonate fuel cell power generation plant, at the Port of Long Beach. Slated to come online in 2020, the plant would generate 2.35 megawatts of electricity and 1.2 tons of hydrogen daily, which would power all its port operations including its hydrogen fuel cell-powered heavy duty, class 8 truck, known as the Portal Project (pictured). (Photograph courtesy of Toyota Motor North America Inc.)
“For more than 20 years, Toyota has been leading the development of fuel cell technology because we understand the tremendous potential to reduce emissions and improve society,” Doug Murtha, group vice president of strategic planning for Toyota, said in a press release. “Tri-Gen is a major step forward for sustainable mobility and a key accomplishment of our 2050 environmental challenge to achieve net zero CO2 emissions from our operations.”
Tri-Gen will use biowaste sourced from California agriculture to produce water, electricity and hydrogen, making it Toyota’s first North American facility to use 100% renewable power. Toyota partnered with Air Liquide to build the largest hydrogen fueling station in the world at the port – which supplies Toyota’s on-site fuel cell vehicles, including its heavy duty, class 8 truck – known as the Portal Project.
FuelCell Energy developed Tri-Gen supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Resources Board, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the Orange County Sanitation District and research from the University of California, Irvine.
In addition to Tri-Gen, Toyota plans to continue to work on creating hydrogen fuel infrastructure for consumers who now have access to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, such as Toyota’s Mirai sedan. California currently has 31 retail hydrogen stations, and through partnerships with companies, including Shell, the company plans to increase that number.
“Toyota has been part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands,” the company stated.
The facility is scheduled to come online in 2020. For more information, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.