Pepperidge Farm Inc. installed a 1.2 megawatt (MW) fuel cell power plant at its state-of-the-art bakery in Bloomfield, CT. Manufactured by FuelCell Energy Inc., the fuel cell is now the biggest power source for this 260,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility, and represents the largest single commercial fuel cell power plant in the US.

“This initiative reflects the strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability that is held by both Pepperidge Farm and our parent company, Campbell Soup Company,” says Pat Callaghan, president, Pepperidge Farm.

The fuel cell initiative is supported in part by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, a ratepayer fund administered by Connecticut Innovations Inc., which provided a grant of $3.5 million to offset part of the construction. The new fuel cell supplies about 57% of the total electrical needs of the bakery.

Combined with a smaller, already installed 250 kW fuel cell, the two fuel cells together fulfill 70% of the plant’s electrical needs. Both operate 24/7. The fuel cells operate on natural gas and convert it internally to hydrogen for operation. Heat generated by the fuel cell is also used in the bakery.