REAL-SOFC: Realising reliable, durable, energy efficient and cost effective sofc systems

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0170-6

Key words (English)

High temperature fuel cells; fuel cell technology; fuel cell system components; SOFC; ageing; cells and concepts; manufacturing; standardisation; environment

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 502612

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 1.6.1 Urspr. Progr. Sustainable energy systems

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

The aim of the Integrated Project is to solve the persisting generic problems with planar solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) in a concerted action of the European fuel cell industry and research institutions. Main topics addressed include decreased ageing, cost effective materials, low cost components and manufacturing processes, highest electricity generation efficiency and waste heat utilisation. In close cooperation between industry and research institutions the following steps are accomplished:
· improved understanding of ageing (Work Package 1) in planar SOFC stacks considering all modes of operation, including long term testing over 10'000 h, pressurisation, thermal cycling up to 100 cycles, and influences of fuel composition
· these results will flow into adaptation of materials and protective coatings (Work Package 2) in order to reduce ageing to well below 0.5% per 1000 h
· the modified materials are then used in manufacturing of components under commercial conditions (Work Package 3) and subsequent characterisation in long term and cycling tests (part of Work Package 1).
The project furthermore addresses the topics of Life Cycle Analysis (Work Package 4) as an essential tool for assessing the environmental impact and recycling of the materials used, industrial standardisation (Work Package 5) as a means of lowering the costs, and training and dissemination (Work Package 6) as a tool of human resource management and gender equality. The structure of the project is similar to the USA 'SECA' programme (Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance, Department of Energy targeting at decisive cost reduction in SOFC systems.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0170-6