The Verizon facility most closely associated with this topic is its central office in Garden City, New York. Installed in 2005, its on-site system paired seven natural-gas-fired fuel cells for a total nameplate capacity of 1.4 megawatts with the commercial electric grid. Recovered heat also served parts of the building’s heating and cooling needs. The documented figures describe a historical project, not verified current operation.
Where was the Verizon fuel-cell facility?
The project was at Verizon’s 292,000-square-foot Garden City central office on Long Island, a call-switching center. A 2006 report said the center provided telephone and data services to about 35,000 Long Island customers. Data Center Knowledge reported on the facility in 2006; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) case study describes its installation.
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How did the Garden City system work?
Seven UTC Power PC25C phosphoric-acid fuel-cell units, each rated at 200 kW, were installed in 2005. Together they provided 1.4 MW of nameplate capacity. The units operated continuously and supplemented electricity from the grid; the grid connection also served as backup. DOE says Verizon selected the equipment based on the supplier’s performance history and longevity. These are details of the Garden City installation, not a description of every fuel-cell system.
The project also used some heat recovered from the fuel cells. During the heating season, it supported space heating, while two absorption chillers used recovered heat for cooling. The system did not capture every low-grade heat stream: DOE says the cost of connecting widely dispersed heat uses in the building made full integration uneconomic.
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What did DOE report about performance?
DOE’s 2014 procurement guide reports historical project results and estimates for the Garden City installation. The figures are specific to that site and period; they are not guarantees, current output figures, or typical fuel-cell performance.
| Measure | Reported figure | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Combined nameplate capacity | 1.4 MW | Seven 200-kW units installed in 2005, as described in DOE’s 2014 guide. |
| Combined availability | 96.57% | Historical project result reported in DOE’s 2014 guide. |
| Electrical efficiency | 37–39% | DOE’s estimated range for this project. |
| Thermal efficiency | 22% | DOE’s estimate for this project. |
| Combined heat-and-power efficiency | 59–61% | DOE’s estimated range for this project. |
These capacity and performance figures are reported in the DOE case study and its 2014 fuel-cell procurement guide. Availability is not the same as the share of the facility’s total electricity supplied by the system; the sources do not establish that share.
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Why did Verizon pursue on-site generation?
DOE’s case study links the project to reliability concerns and energy-use goals. It states: “Following several costly power outages and interruptions between 1999 and 2001, Verizon created a team to investigate alternative solutions to bolster electric reliability, optimize the company’s energy use, and reduce costs in an environmentally responsible manner.”
What other Verizon fuel-cell projects were announced or recorded?
Verizon’s later projects differed in scope and technology from the Garden City installation. Announcements and historic project records show additional activity, but they do not establish current operating status.
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2013 solar and fuel-cell program
In April 2013, Verizon announced a $100 million solar and fuel-cell project intended to help power 19 facilities across seven states. The company projected that the combined project would generate more than 70 million kWh per year and reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 10,000 metric tons. Those were company projections in the announcement, not independently verified current results. Verizon’s announcement provides the project details.
California solid-oxide installations
In June 2013, Verizon announced an agreement with Bloom Energy for solid-oxide fuel-cell systems at switching centers in Los Angeles and San Francisco and a data center in San Jose. The company projected more than 16 million kWh of annual generation from those California installations. That number is the 2013 announcement’s projection, not a current measured-output figure. Verizon’s California announcement describes the agreement.
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New York projects in NYSERDA records
NYSERDA’s distributed-energy database lists historic Verizon projects using ClearEdge Power PureCell Model 400 natural-gas systems: 800 kW across two units at Meserole Street in Brooklyn, plus 400-kW projects at Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn and Forest Avenue in Staten Island. The database records monitoring periods ending in 2020 or 2023; those records do not confirm whether the systems remain in service. See NYSERDA’s distributed-energy project records.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the Garden City fuel cells still operating?
The cited sources document the installation and historical performance, but do not verify whether the Garden City units still operate. The same limit applies to the later projects: announcements and database records establish planned or historical deployments, not their present status.
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