Solid oxide fuel cell shows large-scale potential

It is the first time a 10kW power class planar SOFC fuel stack has operated as part of a complete fuel-cell system, according to research scientist Matias Halinen from the VTT Technical Research Centre.

‘What we are doing is trying to measure the endurance and reliability of the stack and the balance of components in the system, such as the blowers, burners and valves,’ he said. ‘Because there is no mass market of fuel-cell system components… we need to somehow establish the reliability and endurance of the components.’

Tekes, the Finnish funding agency for technology and innovation, is part funding the project as part of the Tekes Fuel Cell Programme.

Since the beginning of November last year, the current prototype system has completed more than 1,500 hours of reliable and continuous operation. The electricity produced equates to the average annual consumption of five apartments in an apartment block.

SOFC technology is an extremely low-emission energy source and can utilise a wide range of different fuels, including biogas, which is normally difficult to exploit efficiently using other technologies.