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Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation
 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation
Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation
FuelCell Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”, “FuelCell Energy”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is a Delaware corporation engaged in the development, manufacture and service of stationary fuel cells power plants for clean electric power generation. Our Direct FuelCell power plants produce ultra-clean, efficient and reliable 24/7 base load electricity and usable high quality heat for commercial, industrial, government and utility customers. We have commercialized our stationary carbonate fuel cells and are also pursuing the complementary development of planar solid oxide fuel cell and other fuel cell technologies. We continue to invest in new product and market development and, as such, we are not currently generating positive cash flow from our operations.  Our operations are funded primarily through cash generated from product sales and research and development contracts, license fee income and sales of equity and debt securities. In order to produce positive cash flow from operations, we need to be successful at increasing annual order volume and continuing our cost reduction efforts.
 
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not contain all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present our financial position as of April 30, 2012 have been included. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted.  The balance sheet at October 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but it does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended October 31, 2011, which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

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. Estimates are used in accounting for, among other things, revenue recognition, excess, slow-moving and obsolete inventories, product warranty costs, reserves on long-term service agreements, 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.  Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results in future periods may differ from those estimates.

Concentrations
We contract with a concentrated number of customers for the sale of products and for research and development contracts. Significant revenues from individual customers for the six months ended April 30, 2012 and 2011 included POSCO Energy (“POSCO”), which is a related party and owns approximately 17 percent of the outstanding common shares of the Company, Logan Energy, Inc., the U.S. Government and BioFuels Energy, LLC.

The percent of consolidated revenues from each customer is presented below.

 
Six Months Ended
April 30,
 
2012
 
2011
POSCO Energy
72
%
 
58
%
Logan Energy, Inc.
6
%
 
—
%
BioFuels Energy, LLC
—
%
 
15
%
U. S. government (primarily the Department of Energy)
6
%
 
8
%
Combined
84
%
 
81
%
Subsequent Events
We have evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements. There were no subsequent events requiring disclosure.

Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss for the periods presented was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended 
April 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
April 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Net loss
$
(8,363
)
 
$
(20,008
)
 
$
(14,377
)
 
$
(31,015
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
—

 
2

 
(2
)
 
4

Comprehensive loss
$
(8,363
)
 
$
(20,006
)
 
$
(14,379
)
 
$
(31,011
)