Our Company
Proven. Energy Independence that is Changing the World.
50 Years Powering Missions On Land, In Water & In Space.
UTC Power has a rich history of pioneering the development and commercialization of various fuel cell technologies. Our fuel cells have provided electric power and drinking water for astronauts on every U.S. manned space flight dating back to the Apollo program and including all space shuttle missions. From the 1950s to the 1990s, UTC Power expanded its research and development to include fuel cells for marine applications, buildings and transportation. In the 2000s, we launched our next generation fuel cells for transit buses and buildings. Today, our fuel cells are powering transit buses in California and Connecticut and our stationary fuel cells are providing clean, efficient base load power to grocery stores, hospitals, mixed-used developments and schools around the globe.
In space, underwater, on the ground, and on the road - When it comes to fuel cells, UTC Power has history, technology, products and expertise that is Proven.
-
1961
The Space Race Accelerates Fuel Cell Development
President Kennedy sets goal of lunar landing within the decade which generates a substantial development effort toward fuel cells for manned space flight.
-
1961
Demonstration of Fuel Cells for NASA
Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, a division of United Aircraft Corporation demonstrates a six-cell stack for Robert Gilruth of NASA which included drinking the product water from the fuel cell. A contract to demonstrate a 250 watt system (PC2) followed.
-
1962
Apollo Program
In March, North American Aviation awarded a contract to P&WA to develop and produce the 1.5 kW (PC3) hydrogen oxygen fuel cell power plant as the source of power and drinking water for the Command and Service Module of the Apollo space craft.
-
1964
New Facility to Support Growing Fuel Cell Operations
Fuel cell activities moved to dedicated facility in South Windsor, CT. Over the years this facility has grown considerably, but is still the headquarters location for UTC Power.
-
1966
Apollo: First Flight
First flight of the Apollo fuel cell power plant - there would be another 17 flights to follow this one.
-
1969
Fuel Cell Powers Underwater Habitat
An Alkaline fuel cell powerplant supplies power to an underwater habitat offshore Palm Beach,Florida.
-
1970
Awarded
a U.S. Navy development contract for the PC15, a 30 kW hydrogen-oxygen power plant for underwater vehicles.
-
1973
Company Selected to Supply Fuel Cells for the Space Shuttle Program
In November the company was selected as the winner of the competition for the Space Shuttle Orbiter fuel cell power plant.
-
1975
United Technologies
United Aircraft changes its name to United Technologies Corporation.
-
1976
A program is commenced where a 1 MW pilot plant is connected to Northeast Utilities grid to demonstrate the concept of distributed generation.
-
1977
Fuel Cell Development for the U.S. Navy
A 30 kW (PC15) fuel cell powers the Lockheed Deep Quest to a depth of 7,500 feet.
-
1978
Final Apollo Flight
In July, the Apollo/Soyuz mission represented the final flight in the Apollo program.
-
1979
DOE Contract to Explore Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells
Company awarded a major molten carbonate fuel cell contact by the Department of Energy focused on molten carbonate fuel cells.
-
1981
Space Shuttle Program: The First Flight
The first flight of the space shuttle program - fuel cells provided electricity and drinking water on each shuttle mission throughout the life of the program.
-
1982
Early Field Testing
A contract to manufacture 40 kW power plants for field testing was awarded. The fleet totaled over 350,000 hours of testing and pioneered many grid-protection features.
-
1984
Early Multi-megawatt System
Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) 4.8 MW class power plant in Goi, Japan reaches rated power.
-
1985
International Fuel Cells
The Toshiba Corporation forms joint venture with UTC for design, development and delivery of 11 MW Distributed Generator. This joint venture, named International Fuel Cells Corporation, begins operations in April.
-
1987
Early 200 kW Fuel Cell Prototype
A prototype version of a 200 kW stationary power plant, referred to as the Verification Test Article, begins operation.
-
1989
ONSI
Success of the 200 kW activity resulted in the formation of ONSI, a subsidiary of International Fuel Cells Corporation in an equitable arrangement with the Toshiba Corporation.
-
1991
Early 200 kW Stationary Systems
The early 1990's focused on the commercialization of the 200 kW (PC25) fuel cell power plant, with the first of 56 PC25 A power plants shipped in December..
-
1993
Early 200 kW Stationary Systems
The PC25 A was updated with minor improvements (PC25 B) and eighteen units were manufactured and delivered between June and April of 1994.
-
1995
Maturation of the 200 kW Stationary Fuel Cell
The first delivery of the PC25 C was made from the South Windsor facility in December and the 100th PC25 was delivered in 1996 in a ceremony attended by the Secretary of Energy.
-
1997
50 kW ambient pressure PEM
power plant (PC29) is delivered to DOE/Ford under contract after having demonstrated 50% efficiency at rated power and 60% at part power with a weight of only 6 pounds per kW.
-
1998
Stationary Fuel Cell Fleet Milestone
The PureCell® system Model 200 fleet exceeds 2 million hours of operation.
-
1998
Fuel Cell Powers a Hybrid Bus
Working with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Georgetown University, a 100 kilowatt methanol power plant was integrated into a 40-foot hybrid drive electric bus.
-
1999
Fuel Cells for Automobiles
A 5 kW hydrogen-fueled Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) was demonstrated in a Seven Series BMW and displayed at the Frankfort Auto Show.
-
2000
Hyundai Automotive Fuel Cell Partnership
In April, a project with Hyundai to install a 75 kW Series 300 hydrogen-air power plant in the Santa Fe SUV was initiated and this vehicle saw its first public demonstration at the opening of the California Fuel Cell Partnership in November.
-
2000
Fuel Cell Bus Partnerships
International Fuel Cells signs partnership agreements with Thor Industries, the largest maker of mid-size buses in the United States, and Irisbus, one of the largest European bus manufacturers.
-
2000
Recipient of EPA's Climate Protection Award
International Fuel Cells wins U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Protection Award in recognition of IFC's efforts to protect the climate by commercializing fuel cell technology.
-
2001
UTC Power
United Technologies announces the formation of UTC Power to focus on the distributed generation market.
-
2002
First Fuel Cell Bus in Passenger Service
A Thor bus powered by a UTC Power power plant was the first fuel cell hybrid bus to enter into passenger service in California.
-
2002
Nissan Fuel Cell-Powered X-Trail
Nissan unveils UTC Power fuel cell-powered X-Trail FCV Vehicle.
-
2004
Industry-leading Fuel Cell System is Renamed
UTC Power introduces new brand name for the PC25 200 kW fuel cell system, the industry's most tested and proven fuel cell system, to the PureCell® system Model 200
-
2005
UTC Power Fuel Cells Power SunLine Transit Buses
SunLine Transit in Thousand Palms, California launches a Van Hool bus powered by PureMotion® Model 120 fuel cells from UTC Power.
-
2007
UTC Power Fuel Cells Power AC Transit Buses
AC Transit in Oakland, California launches three Van Hool buses powered by PureMotion® Model 120 fuel cells from UTC Power.
-
2007
PureCell® Fleet Achieves Major Field Operation Milestone
UTC Power's stationary power fuel cell fleet reaches 8 million hours of field operation, with a PureCell® Model 200 system installed at the Central Park police station in New York City achieving fleet-leader status, delivering more than 62,000 operating hours with its original fuel cell stack.
-
2007
Fuel Cell Development for Underwater Crafts
UTC Power begins development of fuel cell for Spanish submarine.
-
2008
UTC Power Named Supplier of the Year
UTC Power earns "Supplier of the Year" honors from United Space Alliance (USA), NASA's prime Space Shuttle contractor.
-
2008
PureCell Systems to Provide Power to World Trade Center
UTC Power is selected to supply fuel cells for the World Trade Center in New York City. Twelve 400 kW units to be installed in 4 towers (3 units per tower).
-
2009
First Shipment of the PureCell® Model 400 System
in June, UTC Power celebrated the major milestone of shipping the first next-generation PureCell prodct: the Model 400. The Model 400 fuel cell system incorporates new technology and design innovations and builds on UTC Power's unmatched fuel cell fleet durability and proven operating experience.
-
2010
CT Transit Adds Four Fuel Cell Buses to its Fleet
CT Transit launches four next-generation fuel cell-powered buses to join an earlier generation bus that began service in 2007 for a fleet total of five hybrid-electric transit buses.
-
2010
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Certification
California Air Resources Board issues executive order for Distributed Generation Certification to UTC Power for the PureCell® Model 400 system.
-
2010
Final Orbiter Fuel Cell Shipment
UTC Power marks the end of Space Shuttle Orbiter fuel cell program with a celebration at the final fuel cell shipment for this historic program - longtime and retired NASA and UTC Power engineers were invited and on-hand to participate in the event. The final space shuttle missions take place in 2011.
-
2010
PureCell® System Model 400 Certified to Stringent FC-1
The PureCell Model 400 system is certified to the American National Standards Institute/CSA American Standard for Stationary Fuel Cell Power Systems (ANSI/CSA FC-1).
-
2011
Major Field Operation Milestone for PureCell® Model 400 Fleet
UTC Power's next generation stationary fuel cell, the PureCell® Model 400 System fleet reaches a major milestone - 100,000 hours of field operation.