As part of a clean energy initiative, Quinnipiac University is installing fuel cells across all three campuses to create clean electricity.

Each unit produces 460 kilowatts of energy through a chemical reaction, converting natural gas into electricity. 

“So, it’s a clean way of making electricity from gas versus burning it like most power plants do,” Sal Filardi, vice president for facilities and capital planning, said. 

Between the three campuses, 10 fuel cells will be installed — six on the Mount Carmel Campus, two on the York Hill Campus and two on the North Haven Campus. 

“They’re all connected, and they run in parallel and provide electricity for the campus,” Filardi said. 

In addition to producing clean energy, Filardi noted that the fuel cells are also cost effective long term.  

“We’re going to fix a lower cost, and we’re going to fix it for 10 years, and then we have a 10 year option to renew,” Filardi said. “That actually reduces it even further for another 10 years.”

Having officially been approved in December, the project is currently under construction.  

The first fuel cells will be installed on the North Haven campus and are expected to be completed in March. York Hill will follow with an expected completion date in April and Mount Carmel in June. 

Along with creating electricity, the fuel cells create heat, which will be stored in a central plant. 

“That will allow us to preheat boiler water, which will save us on the gas cost and heat the whole campus, really,” Filardi said. “So that’s another little perk.”

Several other Connecticut schools have already turned to fuel cells for more sustainable energy.  

Others, like Quinnipiac, are beginning to install them now. This includes the University of Connecticut, which has been using them for years, as reported by CT Insider.

Just down the street from Quinnipiac, Hamden High School recently installed its first fuel cell, joining several schools in using renewable energy.