DOE funding new fuel cell research

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy has announced that it is awarding a total of $10.2 million in funding to16 projects that will research solid oxide fuel cell technology. The selected research projects will address the cost and reliability of his particular type of fuel cell technology and conduct field testing of a prototype system for validating the solutions that are determined, DOE says.

A solid oxide fuel cell contains a solid electrolyte and uses a fuel such as natural gas at high temperature to generate electricity while emitting an exhaust containing water and carbon dioxide. This stationary means of generating power from a fossil fuel can be relatively efficient, especially if heat generated by the process can also be captured.

The projects being funded by DOE involve a variety of research programs, including the development of technology for monitoring fuel cell performance, research into the use of different types of cathode, anode technology testing, and the manufacture of ceramic materials for electrolytes.

Several universities, technical colleges and businesses will conduct the research.

- ALAN BAILEY