E! 7565 Production of novel redox resistant anode supported SOFC cells and their integration into industrial fuel cell systems

High-temperature fuel cells (SOFC) is one of the most promising methods to convert chemical energy in the form of natural gas, biogas or coal into electricity, with possibilities to include CO2 separation. Key elements are high efficiency, low CO2 emissions and the absence of other types of pollution such as NOx, sulfur elements and particles. The prevalence of SOFC has up to now been limited by high costs and limited lifetime, which is largely attributable to properties with the current materials in SOFC membranes. This project aims to develop and commercialize a new type membranes have shown increased longevity and robustness under realistic SOFC conditions. The project will look at material design, microstructural design, manufacture and testing of pre-commercial membranes at several scales. The projects will now end after 54 month. Most milestones have been achieved with excellent results, both the most ambitious long-term tests has been shortened in time. Procedures for pilot production has been identified and several types of defects has been eliminated. Organic solvents have been replaced by more environmental friendly water based solvents. The total production of half-cells in the project is close to 1000. During the project, the quality has been significantly improved, but the quality is still too fluctuating for industrial production.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) is recognised as the most promising technology for conversion of hydrocarbon fuels to electricity. It differs from other fuel cells technologies by its high operation temperature and fuel flexibility. The SOFC may provide >60 % electrical efficiency, modular systems from 1 kW to MW and essentially no emissions except CO2 and water. The status of the SOFC technology today is that it is finally maturing from pure academic research to fully functional installation providing elect ricity to customers. RoxSolidCell is a project that brings together a consortium of partners who will produce a new product that radically improves the performance and reliability of this technology. The product is called 2R-Cell and has been invented by the lead SME Fiaxell, a Swiss-based company. Production will be developed by a French ceramic company called CTI and demonstration by a Norwegian company called Prototech, a leading company in fuel cell technology. Basic research, product improvement and materials development will be carried out by three research institutes: EPFL in Switzerland, CNRS-IMN in France and University of Agder in Norway, all three possessing expertise in essential fields. The 2R-cell specifically provides a solution to the mai n problem that is holding back the commercialization of the SOFC, namely resistance to repetitive cycles of reduction and oxidation. Current generation SOFC systems are based on older technology that mitigates these problems at the cost of lower power and higher temperature, both of which lead to higher cost and faster degradation. The introduction of 2R-cell will provide SOFCs at lower cost, lower temperature of operation and better lifetime. The concept originally invented by the Swiss SME Fiaxell has a lready been shown to work and provides the necessary specifications to be acceptable in principle by commercial fuel cell manufacturing companies.