Onsite Fuel Cell Technology to Power Whole Foods Supermarket

UTC Power recently announced that Whole Foods Market, Inc. (Nasdaq:WFMI) will use onsite hydrogen fuel cell technology to power a new store in California.

Once construction on the 50,000-square-foot store in San Jose is completed, the PureCell system, provided by UTC Power, will generate 90 percent of the store’s electrical needs. Thermal energy, a byproduct, will be used for heating, cooling and refrigeration.

Fuel Cell Technology:

Fuel cells are one of the cleanest and quietest energy-generation sources available today.  According to the UTC Power website, fuel cells provide “highly efficient, combustion-free energy solutions” that are virtually pollution free. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that combine hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, heat and water. UTC Power, a United Technologies Corporation, (NYSE:UTX)  is a leader in developing and producing fuel cells.

Whole Foods Market:

Whole Foods Market is the first supermarket in the world to adopt large-scale use of fuel cell technology.  It's San Jose store will become the first supermarket to generate most of its power using fuel cell technology. It is estimated that the San Jose system will prevent the release of over 370 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, the equivalent of planting more than 85 acres of trees. Two other stores, a 60,000-square-foot store in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut, also use the onsite PureCell system.

With over 270 stores, Whole Foods Market, founded in 1980, was America’s first national certified organic grocer. FORTUNE magazine listed the company as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 13 consecutive years and Health magazine named the company as one of “America’s Healthiest Grocery Stores” in 2009. Finally, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranked Whole Foods Market number four in its National Top 50 Green Power Partners.  The company also donated $1 million to numerous relief efforts in Haiti.