FuelCell to develop power plant

has announced it has been selected by the US Department of Energy (DOE) as a prime contractor of a third project team to develop a coal-based multi-megawatt solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. The total project award for the 10-year, three-phase Fuel Cell Coal-Based System programme is approximately $85 million. The project is subject to negotiation of a final agreement.

The programme's goal is to develop a multi-megawatt SOFC power system, 100 megawatts and larger, with at least 50 percent overall efficiency in converting energy contained in coal to grid electrical power. This compares to today's average US coal-based power plant with an electrical efficiency of approximately 35 percent. Other programme goals include capturing 90 per cent or more of system's carbon dioxide emissions and meeting a cost of $400 per kilowatt.

FuelCell Energy will be responsible for the overall systems development of its coal-based multi-megawatt SOFC/T power plant. Other team members include Versa Power Systems, providing SOFC stack technology development; Gas Technology Institute, providing fuel cell pressurisation tests; and Nexant, providing coal gasification expertise.