GenCell Energy, the Israel-based manufacturer of fuel cell energy solutions, has announced that following participation in an international tender for backup for substations executed by Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) the state-owned and largest utility in Mexico, GenCell has been selected to deploy its hydrogen-based DC backup solutions for CFE substations. The company has been contracted for delivery and two years of service and maintenance of 37 hydrogen-based fuel cells to substations across Mexico in a deal valued at approximately US$6 million.
According to the terms of the tender, CFE has the right to purchase up to a total of 74 units on the same terms, thus increasing the value of the deal to a figure of up to some US$12 m. Delivery and deployment are planned for H1 2021.
In 2018 GenCell sent two G5rx backup power solutions for testing and approval by CFE’s technological arm Laboratory of Equipment and Materials Testing (LAPEM). Following receipt of approval from LAPEM, GenCell deployed two units at existing CFE substations. During this testing period the GenCell G5RX units delivered long-duration backup power through an earthquake that reached 0.30 PGA. The backup power units with fuel availability can support long duration backup of as long as 24 hours or more. The solution incorporates GenCell’s IoT Remote Manager software to centrally supervise the optimal performance of the equipment distributed across the substations.
CFE is a huge utility, providing electricity to 99% of the Mexican population.
