Advancement on Fuel and Operation Mode Flexible Solid Oxide Cell Stacks and Modules

A key advantage of solid oxide (SO) technology is its flexibility on the type of operating fuel and operating mode, being it either fuel cell (FC) electrolysis (EL) or reversible operation (rSOC). Particularly, SOE operation is rapidly emerging as a key enabler of the transition to a hydrogen economy reliant on clean H2 production routes, thanks to its higher efficiency and lower operation costs compared to competing technologies. In both scenarios, Elcogen is positioned at the forefront of this field with demonstrated gross electrical efficiency of 75.3% in FC mode operation with NG and specific energy consumption (SEC) of 33 kWh/kg for hydrogen production in EL mode. Demonstrating the capability to operate with multiple fuels has the intrinsic advantage of opening up the field of application where SOFC can be employed. A prominent example is the maritime industry. Elcogen is actively involved in this field within the FuelSOME project, funded under Horizon Europe program. Aim is to elucidate the influence of non-conventional fuels on different levels, to develop modules to scale up the power range and, eventually, to the impact on system design and operation. Such fuels include ammonia (NH3) and methanol (MeOH). Results will be discussed keeping an eye on stacks and module development, allowing to target high power range applications. Similar goal is pursued within SO-FREE. Elcogen activities in this project, funded under Horizon Europe program, aim at developing a multi-stack module while establishing a standardized interface to the system and benchmark the performances of stacks and system under various fuel blends. Such approach will result, together with the project partners effort, in facilitating the uptake of SO technology. Elcogen is actively engaged in activities connected to the development of large scale of stacks for EL operation. Such activities are performed within the OUTFOX project, funded under Horizon Europe program, which aims at removing scale as a limiting factor for the widespread adoption of SOEL for clean hydrogen production. Activities at stack level will target a 70% increase in current density compared to the current state of the art and improvement of degradation level. In parallel, through modelling and simulation, a new concept will be devised where larger cells can be used. This will target the realization of a new stack which will be specifically tailored for large capacity installations of solid oxide electrolysis systems.