Plug Power - Fuel Cell Systems for Telecom Backup Power

Plug Power, a global leader in clean, reliable, on-site energy, develops and manufactures stationary Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells that supply power to the wireless, telecom and utility industries.

The company's leading product line, GenCore®, is designed for critical backup power in the outside plant. Operating at 5kW and fuelled directly by hydrogen, GenCore offers its users lower life-cycle costs, zero emissions and reliable operation at extreme temperatures.

All GenCore products are based on Plug Power's modular and scalable 5kW power platform, which provides a high level of flexibility to meet diverse customer needs.

MORE DISTRIBUTED, ROBUST AND RELIABLE NETWORK POWER

Today's telecoms are faced with unprecedented threats to customer retention. Chief among them are call performance and reliability. Consumers regularly measure providers by how well they provide uninterrupted service before and during power interruptions.

At the same time, the skyrocketing demand for more services - graphics, web access, music and video, to name a few - requires more robust, more distributed network power than ever before.

Unfortunately, incumbent technologies are falling short in the new distributed, outside plant. Valve-Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries can be unpredictable, hazardous and expensive to maintain, while generator sets often present noise issues. This has led many telecom leaders to see new solutions.

GENCORE - BACKUP POWER FOR THE OUTSIDE PLANT

GenCore systems answer the challenges of today's outside plant. They provide an immediate, extended response to power interruptions over a broad range of outdoor conditions (-40°C to 46°C). The systems always operate at full load as long as there is fuel - there is no degradation of voltage as with batteries.

Their maintenance schedule (once every three years) and longer life (ten years versus three to five for outdoor battery systems) mean lower lifecycle costs. When operating on hydrogen, GenCore produces zero emissions with nearly silent operation.

Plug Power's recycling program eliminates the disposal issues often encountered with batteries. And because fuel cells represent a capital expense, they free up operating budgets to meet telecom growth objectives.

EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET DC POWER

GenCore's PEM fuel cell stacks deliver efficient, clean and quiet DC power. Integrated sensors provide continuous feedback for optimal system performance, and power options include -48VDC or +24VDC.

The scalable hydrogen fuel storage can meet specific site and provider requirements.

GenCore's freeze-tolerant design complies with NEBS Level 3 standards and the well-insulated and painted rugged cabinet protects the system inside.

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO POWER INTERRUPTIONS

By using GenCore, you can:

• Provide immediate response to power interruptions
• Increase network reliability
• Add redundancy to existing backup power solutions or (where needed) replace existing battery technology
• Increase network security through effective power distribution in the outside plant
• Decrease dependence on grid-supplied power
• Improve the life of your power infrastructure
• Alleviate facility space constraints caused by existing battery banks

GenCore also reduces lifecycle costs by eliminating frequent maintenance, replacement and disposal of existing batteries. The transportation and labour costs associated with generator relocation during outages also disappear.

GenCore provides a scalable, cost-effective, redundant power architecture that can increase in size simply by increasing fuel quantity.