Toyota harnesses hydrogen fuel cell technology to power its headquarters

The first hydrogen fuel cell powered Toyota cars are projected to reach consumers from next year, but the Japanese automaker is currently exploiting the technology to cut costs and carbon emissions at one of its largest office complexes.

A 1.11 megawatt stationary fuel cell has been installed at the Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) headquarters near Los Angeles to generate electricity - and in the process - reduce utility bills. The fuel cell structure, supplies about half the power needed by the six buildings on site during the summer when demand is at its peak.

The cell uses the same basic technology - a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) - as Toyota's forthcoming production car. The fuel cell installation is the largest of its kind in the world and is the first application of a fuel cell as a stationary power generator.

The hydrogen for the fuel cells are produced off-site and supplied through the same pipeline that feeds the hydrogen filling station next to the TMS site. The fuel is produced by Air Products using a natural gas reformation technique, while Toyota offsets the carbon produced by purchasing renewable bio-gas generated from landfill waste.