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FuelCell Energy's Block System earns 99.873% PJM capacity rating for on-site power

PJM Interconnection accredited 99.873% of FuelCell Energy's evaluated Block System capacity in a unit-specific Effective Load Carrying Capability assessment for the 2028/2029 Reliability Backstop Procurement, topping preliminary class ratings of 96% for nuclear, 93% for diesel and 67% for gas combustion turbines.

By Greener Numbers Editorial Team · Published October 21, 2026 · Updated 10/21/2026

The regional transmission operator PJM Interconnection has awarded a 99.873 percent Effective Load Carrying Capability rating to FuelCell Energy's Block System. The unit-specific accreditation was completed as part of PJM's 2028/2029 Reliability Backstop Procurement process, establishing that grid planners can count approximately 99.9 megawatts of every 100 megawatts evaluated as dependable baseload capacity.

The accreditation provides a crucial benchmark for hyperscale data centers seeking continuous on-site power across the mid-Atlantic and Midwest. PJM projects 32 gigawatts of total peak load growth across its footprint between 2024 and 2030, with approximately 30 gigawatts stemming directly from large data center connections. High-density compute facilities require firm power that does not face years of transmission interconnection study delays or risk curtailment during grid emergencies.

The 99.873 percent rating significantly exceeds preliminary class ratings established by PJM for conventional generation across the same 2028/2029 delivery period. Under PJM guidelines, nuclear generation receives a 96 percent class rating, diesel reciprocating engines receive 93 percent, and natural gas combustion turbines receive 67 percent. By surpassing traditional thermal assets in reliability scoring, modular carbonate fuel cells offer a proven alternative for co-locating power directly at compute facilities.

In wholesale capacity markets, accredited capacity directly dictates the revenue generators can monetize under PJM's Reliability Pricing Model. As regional capacity auction clearing prices hit record levels, high capacity accreditation enhances project financing terms for utilities and independent power producers. For commercial consumers, deploying ultra-high-reliability on-site fuel cells reduces pressure on regional transmission systems while insulating local utility ratepayers from multi-billion-dollar substation upgrade costs.

Official source: globenewswire.com ↗