Coal and Power Systems
Fuel Cells
Welcome to NETL’s Fuel Cells Webpage. In partnership with private industry, educational institutions and national laboratories, we are leading the research, development, and demonstration of high efficiency, fuel flexible solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and coal-based SOFC power generation systems for stationary market large central power plants under the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA). The SECA cost reduction goal is to have SOFC systems capable of being manufactured at $400 per kilowatt by 2010. Concurrently, the scale-up, aggregation, and integration of the technology will progress in parallel leading to prototype validation of megawatt (MW)-class fuel flexible products by 2012 and 2015. The SECA coal-based systems goal is the development of large (greater than 100 MW) integrated gasification fuel cell (IGFC) power systems that will enable low-cost, near-zero emission electrical power from coal. NETL analyses show that an IGFC system with a pressurized SOFC and catalytic gasification with recycle permits a high net efficiency approaching 60 percent HHV with carbon capture greater than 99 percent. Separate fuel and air streams to the SOFC substantially reduce the amount of water required to condense, recycle and reuse process water, and without a steam cycle, there is virtually no external water requirement. Meeting SECA goals result in the lowest cost of electricity coal option with environmental regulation compliance that effectively eliminates the carbon footprint and has near-zero water requirements. Developing technology to ensure that the use of coal is an economic energy source while maintaining America’s ever tightening environmental, climate change, and water requirements is of crucial U.S. national importance for solving today’s energy security concerns. Please explore our site and contact us with any questions
Latest SECA/Fuel Cells Information
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