CFE the Largest Utility in North America Expands Deployment of GenCell's Long-duration Substation Backup Solution

GenCell Energy, a leading provider of hydrogen-to-power solutions, announced that Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), Mexico's state-owned utility and the largest utility in North America, has demonstrated its strategic partnership with GenCell by ordering an additional tens of GenCell REX backup power units as part of the tender won in December 2023, alongside the multiple units already deployed. The GenCell REX units, accompanied by GenCell GEMS proprietary AI-driven energy management software, provide climate-resilient, zero-emission, long-duration Tier One backup power to CFE's substations that kicks in immediately during grid outages. CFE has partnered with GenCell to harden substations and - going forward - to leverage hydrogen to supply reliable stable clean energy for its new substations.

Based on the successful collaboration between CFE Distribucion, GenCell and Gncell Mexico to optimize substation operations and systems interoperability, in December 2023 CFE contracted an order of additional GenCell backup power units via its Mexican partner GnCell Energy de México to supply GenCell REX systems configured with triple load capacity (130, 48 and or 12 VDC in a single unit) for its substations. CFE has now decided to move ahead to exercise its option within the contract to order double the initial number of units purchased.

The project has enhanced resilience, digitization and automation, predictive maintenance, network modernization and compliance with cybersecurity and regulatory mandates to extend backup duration from 8 to 24 hours. Designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions, GenCell's backup solutions operate in a temperature range from -20°C to +45°C without preheating and in humidity of up to 90%. Servicing, parts and fuel replacement are infrequent, requiring only annual maintenance.

GenCell's GEMS software gives CFE full visibility into substation resilience. A systematized operation protocol was developed for coordination with CFE and national CCD-ZOT-CENACE monitoring centers. Complying with the strictest utility standards, the software helps CFE meet 2030 Smart Grid Maturity & Interoperability Goals.

"We are proud and grateful to reach this stage in our partnership with CFE, delivering climate-resilient auxiliary power critical to CFE's ability to distribute uninterrupted power across Mexico," remarks Rami Reshef, co-founder and CEO, GenCell. "Working together with CFE to optimally leverage hydrogen in Mexico's clean energy future, GenCell is realizing our vision of GreenFSG – an innovative approach incorporating broad distribution of independent, zero-emission circular economies delivering long-duration clean power anywhere."

Continues Reshef, "When climate disruption causes outages to extend from 8 to 20+ hours, innovation that extends backup duration and reliability, enabling "always-on" substations to sustain distribution systems' critical operations, is a utility game-changer. We are confident that our strategic partnership with CFE driving substation resilience will propel GenCell's extended penetration of the power utility sector across North America."

GenCell Energy | www.gencellenergy.com