When Francis Bacon said that knowledge is power, he wasn't thinking of advanced research into energy alternatives. But his statement could easily be the theme of UConn's newly established Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center. The 16,000-square-foot building was constructed to facilitate research on fuel cell power generation -- a promising alternative to energy-guzzling internal combustion engines.

The Center forms the core of an historic agreement between UConn and Connecticut Innovations, Inc., a partnership that has sparked $13.3 million in funding from private and government sources for fuel cell research, six endowed chairs, and the new facility. The combined package fortifies the state's commitment to fuel cell power.

Another mainstay of the initiative is a high-capacity fuel cell recently installed at UConn. Weighing some 40,000 pounds, it looks like a giant battery from a B-movie set. But with a price tag of approximately $1 million, it's the genuine article. Generating energy without combustion and associated polluting byproducts, it's also generating excitement among engineering faculty and students. The cell combines hydrogen and water to produce electricity, leaving harmless water vapor in its wake. The unit, a 200 kW PC25 by UTC Fuel Cells, donated by Connecticut Natural Gas, powers the United Technologies Engineering building and serves as a learning tool for engineering students and fuel cell researchers. Virtually noise-free, the cell recycles waste heat, funneling it back into the building's heating system.

Driving the research forward are six new chaired professorships of $1 million each, to be filled by world leaders in fuel cell research and development. The chairs provide funding to develop advanced fuel cells and establish research partnerships with businesses interested in energy alternatives to drive their own engines.

There will be no lack of applications for the ingenuity that results. The behemoth fuel cell at UConn is only one example -- mobile fuel cells could someday power vehicles, appliances, lawnmowers and laptop computers as well as homes and buildings. In the meantime, current efforts fuel UConn's reputation as a leading global center for fuel cell technology and innovation.