Dispatch Energy Brings 4 MW Fuel Cell Baseload Plant Online in Connecticut

Dispatch Energy has shared an update.

The company announced it has energized a 4 MW fuel cell power plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, developed in partnership with United Illuminating under the state’s Shared Clean Energy Facility (SCEF) Program. The project, located on a remediated brownfield site, is designed to provide non-intermittent baseload power sufficient for more than 3,000 homes, reduce historic site emissions by an estimated 50%, and support grid resilience amid rising demand from data centers and AI-related loads. The facility uses U.S.-manufactured fuel cell technology and contributes low-carbon electricity in a densely populated area.

For investors, this commissioning signals operational progress, potential revenue generation from a grid-connected asset, and growing integration into state-supported clean energy programs. Participation in SCEF may offer more predictable cash flows via long-term offtake or incentive structures, which can improve earnings visibility and reduce project risk. The use of a brownfield site and domestic fuel cell technology may position Dispatch Energy favorably for future public-private partnerships and regulatory support, especially as states seek to expand clean, firm power capacity. In the broader industry context, the project underscores fuel cells as a viable source of dispatchable low-carbon baseload, potentially enhancing Dispatch Energy’s competitive position in markets facing increasing electrification and demand from data-intensive industries.