A novel renewable energy-based system has been constructed to power the operations of Toyota Motor North America at the Port of Long Beach, California. The Tri-gen system, owned and operated by FuelCell Energy, produces electricity, hydrogen and water from directed biogas.

With a capacity of 2.3 MW, the project will transform Toyota’s operations into the world’s first port vehicle processing facility powered by 100% renewable energy generated onsite. The FuelCell Energy Tri-gen system can produce up to 1,200 kg/day of hydrogen, which will supply the fueling needs for Toyota’s incoming light-duty fuel cell electric vehicle Mirai. The produced hydrogen will also be consumed at a nearby heavy-duty hydrogen refueling station to support logistics and drayage operations at the port.

The hydrogen production process also yields 1,400 gallons/day of water will be co-produced per day from which will be used by for car wash operations for vehicles that come into port prior to customer delivery. This capability will reduce reliance on constrained local water supplies by about half a million gallons annually.

Additional benefits include eliminating more than six tons of grid nitrogen oxides emissions and a diesel fuel consumption reduction of more than 420,000 gallons per year by using hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks in port operations. Electricity not consumed by Toyota will be delivered to the local utility, Southern California Edison.