Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2011

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

FuelCell Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”) are engaged in the development and manufacture of high temperature fuel cells for clean electric power generation. Our Direct FuelCell power plants produce reliable, secure and environmentally friendly 24/7 base load electricity for commercial, industrial, government and utility customers. We have commercialized our stationary fuel cells and are beginning the development of planar solid oxide fuel cell and other fuel cell technology. We expect to incur losses until such time as we can attain higher sales volumes.

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, including FuelCell Energy, Ltd. (“FCE Ltd.”), our Canadian subsidiary; Bridgeport Fuel Cell Park, LLC (“BFCP”), Waterbury Renewable Energy (“WRE”), DFC-ERG Milford, LLC and DFC-ERG Connecticut, LLC, which were formed for the purpose of developing projects within Connecticut; FCE Korea Ltd., which was formed to facilitate our business operations in South Korea; and FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH (“FCES GmbH”) to facilitate business development in Europe. Alliance Monterrey, LLC; Alliance Star Energy, LLC; and Alliance TST Energy, LLC, (collectively, the “Alliance Entities”) are joint ventures with Alliance Power, Inc. (“Alliance”) established to construct fuel cell power plants and sell power under power purchase agreements (“PPA”). We have an 80 percent interest in each entity and accordingly, the financial results of the Alliance Entities are consolidated with our financial results. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

Significant Accounting Policies

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist primarily of investments in money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities with original maturities averaging three months or less at date of acquisition. We place our temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. We have pledged approximately $8.4 million of our cash and cash equivalents as collateral against letters of credit, banking requirements and customer contracts. At October 31, 2011 and 2010, we had outstanding letters of credit of $7.1 million and $7.3 million, respectively.

Investments

Investments consist of U.S. Treasury securities with original maturities of greater than three months at the date of acquisition. The notes are classified as held-to-maturity since we have the ability and intention to hold them until maturity. The notes are carried at amortized cost, which is par value, plus or minus unamortized premium or discount. We classify notes with remaining maturities of one year or less as current assets and notes with remaining maturities greater than one year as non-current assets.

Inventories and Advance Payments to Vendors

Inventories consist principally of raw materials and work-in-process. In certain circumstances, we will make advance payments to vendors for future inventory deliveries. These advance payments are recorded as other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Inventory is reviewed to determine if reserves are required for obsolescence (excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory). This review includes analyzing inventory levels of individual parts considering the current design of our products and production requirements as well as the expected inventory requirements for maintenance on installed power plants.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the term of the lease. When property is sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations for the period.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual property, including internally generated patents and know-how, is carried at no value.

Impairment of Long Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset group may not be recoverable, we compare the carrying amount of an asset group to future undiscounted net cash flows, excluding interest costs, expected to be generated by the asset group and their ultimate disposition. If the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value, less costs to sell.

Revenue Recognition

We earn revenue from (i) the sale and installation of fuel cell power plants and modules (ii) sale of component part kits and spare parts to customers, (iii) site engineering and construction services (iv) providing services under long-term service agreements (“LTSA”), (v) the sale of electricity under power purchase agreements (“PPA”) as well as incentive revenue from the sale of electricity under PPA’s, and (vi) customer-sponsored research and development projects. Our revenue is primarily generated from customers located throughout the U.S. and Asia and from agencies of the U.S. government. Revenue from customer-sponsored research and development projects is recorded as research and development contracts revenue and all other revenues are recorded as product sales and revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.

For customer contracts for complete DFC Power Plants which the Company has adequate cost history and estimating experience and that management believes it can reasonably estimate total contract costs, revenue is recognized under the percentage of completion method of accounting. The use of percentage of completion accounting requires significant judgment relative to estimating total contract costs, including assumptions relative to the length of time to complete the contract, the nature and complexity of the work to be performed, anticipated increases in wages and prices for subcontractor services and materials, and the availability of subcontractor services and materials. Our estimates are based upon the professional knowledge and experience of our engineers, program managers and other personnel, who review each long-term contract on a quarterly basis to assess the contract’s schedule, performance, technical matters and estimated cost at completion. Changes in estimates are applied retrospectively and when adjustments in estimated contract costs are identified, such revisions may result in current period adjustments to earnings applicable to performance in prior periods. Revenues are recognized based on the percentage of the contract value that incurred costs to date bear to estimated total contract costs, after giving effect to estimates of costs to complete based on most recent information. For customer contracts for new or significantly customized products, where management does not believe it has the ability to reasonably estimate total contract costs, revenue is recognized using the completed contract method and therefore all revenue and costs for the contract are deferred and not recognized until installation and acceptance of the power plant is complete. For all types of contracts, we recognize anticipated contract losses as soon as they become known and estimable. We have recorded an estimated contract loss reserve of $0.1 million and $0.6 million as of October 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively. Actual results could vary from initial estimates and reserve estimates will be updated as conditions change.

Revenue from component part kits and spare parts sales is recognized upon shipment and title transfer under the terms of the customer contract.

Revenue from LTSA contracts for power plants with our 5-year stack design is earned ratably over the term of the contract by performing routine monitoring and maintenance and by meeting a certain level of power output. For our legacy LTSA contracts on power plants with our older 3-year stack design, a portion of the contract value related to the stack replacement has been deferred. Upon stack replacement, revenue is recognized ratably over the remaining contract term. Revenue related to routine monitoring and maintenance under legacy contracts is recognized ratably over the full term of the contract.

Revenue from the sale of electricity under PPA’s is recognized as electricity is provided to the customer. Incentive revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the PPA. Site engineering and construction services revenue is recognized on percentage of completion as costs are incurred.

Revenue from research and development contracts is recognized proportionally as costs are incurred and compared to the estimated total research and development costs for each contract. Revenue from government funded research, development and demonstration programs are generally multi-year, cost-reimbursement and/or cost-shared type contracts or cooperative agreements. We are reimbursed for reasonable and allocable costs up to the reimbursement limits set by the contract or cooperative agreement, and on certain contracts we are reimbursed only a portion of the costs incurred. While government research and development contracts may extend for many years, funding is often provided incrementally on a year-by-year basis if contract terms are met and Congress has authorized the funds.

During fiscal 2011, the Company entered into a sales contract and supplemental agreement with one of its customers in which revenue is being recognized based upon the current guidance for multiple deliverable revenue arrangements. The guidance for an arrangement with multiple-deliverables states that the delivered items will be considered a separate unit of accounting if the following criteria are met:

• The delivered item or items have value to the customer on a standalone basis.

• If the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item(s), delivery or performance of the undelivered item or items is considered probable and substantially in the control of the vendor.

The components of the contract were evaluated and it was determined that each have standalone value to the customer. A selling price hierarchy is established for determining the selling price of the multiple deliverables. The selling price used for each deliverable will be based on vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) if available, third-party evidence (TPE) if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price (ESP) if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. The Company evaluated the elements of the contract with the customer using this hierarchy and has determined that estimated selling prices would be utilized for each element. These estimated selling prices were principally based on the prices charged when these elements were sold separately on a limited basis in the past.

Warranty and Service Expense Recognition

We warranty our products for a specific period of time against manufacturing or performance defects. Our warranty is limited to a term generally 15 months after shipment or 12 months after installation of our products. We reserve for estimated future warranty costs based on historical experience. We also provide for a specific reserve if a there is a known issue requiring repair during the warranty period. Estimates used to record warranty reserves are updated as we gain further operating experience. As of October 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, the warranty reserve, which is classified in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet totaled $1.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

In addition to the standard product warranty, we have entered into LTSA contracts with certain customers to provide monitoring, maintenance and repair services for fuel cell power plants. Our standard and most prevalent service agreement term is five years. Under the terms of our LTSA, the power plant must meet a minimum operating output during the term. If minimum output falls below the contract requirement, we may be subject to performance penalties or may be required to repair or replace the customer’s fuel cell stack. An estimate is not recorded for a potential performance guarantee liability until a performance issue has occurred on a particular power plant. At that point, the actual power plant’s output is compared against the minimum output guarantee and a reserve is recorded. The review of power plant performance is updated for each reporting period to incorporate the most recent performance of the power plant and minimum output guarantee payments made to customers, if any. The Company has provided for a reserve for performance guarantees, which based on historical fleet performance totaled $2.2 million and $1.2 million as of October 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The Company provides for reserves on all LTSA agreements when the estimated future stack replacement and service costs are estimated to exceed the remaining contract value. Reserve estimates for future costs on LTSA agreements are determined by a number of factors including the estimated life of the stack, used replacement stacks available, our limit of liability on service agreements and future operating plans for the power plant. Our reserve estimates are performed on a contract by contract basis and include cost assumptions based on what we anticipate the service requirements will be to fulfill obligations for each contract. As of October 31, 2011, our reserve on LTSA contracts totaled $8.9 million compared to $6.6 million as of October 31, 2010. The increase related to changes in estimates for future expected costs. Prior to February 1, 2010, we provided for a pricing reserve if the agreement was sold below our standard pricing. As a result of our experience with these contracts and production rates of stacks and related costing, effective February 1, 2010, contract losses have been estimated as described above. The result of this change in estimate was not material to the consolidated financial statements.

LTSA’s for power plants that have our five-year stack design are not expected to require a stack change to continue to meet minimum operating levels during the initial five-year term of the contract, although we have limited operating experience with these products. Stack replacements for new agreements which include the five-year stack design are expected to only be required upon renewal of the service agreement by the customer.

At the end of our LTSA contracts, customers are expected to either renew the contract or we anticipate that the stack module or the entire power plant will be returned to the Company as the plant is no longer being monitored or having routine service performed. In situations where the customer agrees at the time of a restack to return the stack to the Company at the end of the LTSA term, the cost of the stack is recorded as a long-term asset and depreciated over its expected life. If the Company does not obtain rights to title from the customer, the cost of the stack is expensed at the time of restack. As of October 31, 2011, total stack value recorded as a long-term asset was $15.1 million, net of $2.4 million of accumulated depreciation.

Deferred Revenue, Royalty Income and Customer Deposits

In February 2007, we entered into a 10-year manufacturing and distribution agreement with POSCO Power (“POSCO”). Under the terms of this agreement, POSCO will manufacture balance of plant (“BOP”) in South Korea using its design, procurement and manufacturing expertise. Under the terms of the agreement, we will receive a 4.1 percent royalty on sales of BOP made by POSCO, subject to minimum royalties. Minimum annual royalties recorded under this agreement were $0.6 million and $0.3 million for the years ended October 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

In October 2009, we entered into a 10-year Stack Technology Transfer and License Agreement (the “2009 License Agreement”) with POSCO allowing it to produce fuel cell stack modules from cells and components provided by us. These fuel cell modules will be combined with BOP manufactured in South Korea to complete electricity-producing fuel cell power plants for sale in South Korea. The 2009 License Agreement provides for an ongoing royalty, initially set at 4.1 percent of the revenues generated from sales of fuel cell stack modules manufactured and sourced by POSCO.

In connection with the 2009 License Agreement, we received an upfront license fee of $10.0 million. License fee income is recognized ratably over the term of the 2009 License Agreement. The Company recognized license fee income relating to the upfront license fee received during fiscal years ended October 31, 2011 and 2010 in the amount of $1.0 million, respectively.

In addition, we receive payments from customers upon the acceptance of a purchase order and when contractual milestones are reached. These payments may be deferred based on the nature of the payment and status of the specific project. Deferred revenue is recognized as revenue in accordance with our revenue recognition policies summarized above.

Research and Development Costs

We perform both customer-sponsored research and development projects based on contractual agreement with customers and company-sponsored research and development projects. Costs incurred for customer-sponsored projects include manufacturing and engineering labor, applicable overhead expenses, materials to build and test prototype units and other costs associated with customer-sponsored research and development contracts. These costs are recorded as cost of research and development contracts in the consolidated statements of operations.

Costs incurred for company-sponsored research and development projects consist primarily of labor, overhead, materials to build and test prototype units and consulting fees. These costs are recorded as research and development expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Share-Based Compensation

We account for restricted stock awards (RSA’s) based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. We account for stock options awarded to employees and non-employee directors under the fair value method of accounting using the Black-Scholes valuation model to estimate fair value at the grant date. The model requires us to make estimates and assumptions regarding the expected life of the option, the risk-free interest rate, the expected volatility of our common stock price and the expected dividend yield. The fair value of equity awards is amortized to expense over the vesting period, generally four years. Refer to Note 14 for additional information.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards, research and development credit carryforwards, and differences between financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates and laws expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets if it is unlikely that some or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized.

The company’s financial statements reflect expected future tax consequences of uncertain tax positions that the company has taken or expects to take on a tax return (including a decision whether to file or not file a return in a particular jurisdiction) presuming the taxing authorities’ full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts.

Concentrations

We contract with a concentrated number of customers for the sale of our products and for research and development contracts. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, our top four customers accounted for 71 percent, 68 percent and 64 percent, respectively, of our total annual consolidated revenue.

The percent of consolidated revenues from each customer for the years ended October 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively are presented below.

	2011			2010			2009
POSCO		44	%		58	%		64	%
BioFuels Fuel Cells, LLC		12	%		—			—
UTS BioEnergy, LLC		10	%		—			—
Pacific Gas and Electric Company		5	%		10	%		—
Total		71	%		68	%		64	%

POSCO is a related party and owns approximately 8 percent of the outstanding common shares of the Company. There can be no assurance that we will continue to achieve historical levels of sales of our products to our largest customers. Even though our customer base is expected to increase and our revenue streams to diversify, a substantial portion of net revenues could continue to depend on sales to a limited number of customers. Our agreements with these customers may be cancelled if we fail to meet certain product specifications or materially breach the agreement, and our customers may seek to renegotiate the terms of current agreements or renewals. The loss of, or a reduction in sales to, one or more of our larger customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Derivatives

We do not use derivatives for speculative purposes and through fiscal year end 2011, have not used derivatives for trading purposes. Derivative instruments consist of our warrants to purchase additional shares of common stock of Versa Power Systems, Inc. (“Versa”) and embedded derivatives in our Series 1 Preferred Shares. We account for these derivatives using the fair-value method with changes in the underlying fair value recorded to earnings. Refer to Notes 2 and 12 for additional information.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are used in accounting for, among other things, revenue recognition, excess, slow-moving and obsolete inventories, product warranty costs, LTSA reserves, allowance for uncollectible receivables, depreciation and amortization, impairment of assets, taxes, and contingencies. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive loss of $45.7 million, $55.7 million and $68.7 million includes net loss attributable to FuelCell Energy, Inc. of $45.7 million, $55.7 million and $68.7 million (as reported before preferred dividends and adjustment for modification of redeemable preferred stock) and foreign currency translation adjustments of $4.0 thousand, $13.0 thousand and $2.0 thousand for the years ended October 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively, which are included as a component of stockholders’ (deficit) equity in the consolidated balance sheets.

Foreign Currency Translation

The translation of FuelCell Korea Ltd’s financial statements results in translation gains or losses, which are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ (deficit) equity.

Our Canadian subsidiary, FCE Ltd., is financially and operationally integrated and therefore the temporal method of translation of foreign currencies is followed. The functional currency is U.S. dollars. We are subject to foreign currency transaction gains and losses as certain invoices are denominated in Canadian dollars. We recognized a gain of $1.0 million, a loss of $0.01 million and a loss of $0.2 million for the years ended October 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These amounts have been classified as interest and other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Subsequent Events

We have evaluated subsequent events and are not aware of any significant events that occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date but prior to the filing of this Form 10-K with the SEC that would have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

In April 2010, the FASB provided guidance on defining a milestone and determining when it may be appropriate to apply the milestone method of revenue recognition for research or development transactions. Research or development arrangements frequently include payment provisions whereby a portion or all of the consideration is contingent upon the achievement of milestone events. An entity may only recognize consideration that is contingent upon the achievement of a milestone in its entirety in the period the milestone is achieved only if the milestone meets certain criteria. We adopted this guidance effective November 1, 2010 and it did not impact our financial statements.

In December 2009, the FASB issued revised guidance related to the consolidation of variable interest entities (“VIE”). The revised guidance requires reporting entities to evaluate former qualified special purpose entities for consolidation, changes the approach to determining a VIE’s primary beneficiary from a quantitative assessment to a qualitative assessment designed to identify a controlling financial interest, and increases the frequency of required reassessments to determine whether a company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. It also clarifies, but does not significantly change, the characteristics that identify a VIE. We adopted this guidance effective November 1, 2010 and it did not impact our financial statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued guidance updating accounting standards for revenue recognition for multiple-deliverable arrangements. The stated objective of the update was to address the accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for products or services separately rather than as a combined unit. The guidance provides amended methodologies for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements and expands disclosure requirements. We adopted this guidance for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified after November 1, 2010 and it did not have a material impact on our financial statements or disclosures to date.

In June 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance which requires a company to perform ongoing reassessment of whether it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). Specifically, the guidance modifies how a company determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated. The guidance clarifies that the determination of whether a company is required to consolidate a VIE is based on, among other things, an entity’s purpose and design and a company’s ability to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. The guidance requires an ongoing reassessment of whether a company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE and enhanced disclosures of the company’s involvement in VIEs and any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement. We adopted this guidance effective November 1, 2010 and it did not have an impact on our financial statements.

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Effective

In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance that requires new disclosures for fair value measurements and provides clarification for existing disclosure requirements. This amended guidance requires disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value as well as disclosures about significant transfers in and out of Levels 1 and Levels 2 fair value measurements and disclosures about the purchase, sale, issuance and settlement activity of Level 3 fair value measurements. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for disclosures about the purchase, sale, issuance and settlement activity of Level 3 fair value measurements, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company was not impacted by the disclosures effective for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2009 and we do not expect the remaining disclosures required after December 15, 2010 upon adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our financial statements or disclosures.

In May 2011, the FASB issued new guidance that clarifies and changes some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. Among them is the clarification that the concepts of highest and best use and valuation premise in a fair value measurement should only be applied when measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets. Additionally, the new guidance requires quantitative information about unobservable inputs, and disclosure of the valuation processes used and narrative descriptions with regard to fair value measurements within the Level 3 categorization of the fair value hierarchy. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption prohibited. The adoption of this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements or disclosures.

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance that eliminates the option to present items of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity, and instead requires either OCI presentation and net income in a single continuous statement to the statement of operations, or as a separate statement of comprehensive income. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company is required to adopt this update in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.