SOFC

SOFC \| PEM fuel cells
SOFC technology was largely discounted as unsuitable for micro CHP due to its relative inflexibility to modulate power output and limitations in thermal cycling. However, the very high potential efficiency, the ability to internally reform fuel and other technical features may eventually make this the leading technology for micro CHP. A number of potential configurations are possible including continuous baseload operation, which may mean that these units will operate to meet thermal demand of water heating throughout the year with a supplementary burner to meet variable space heat requirements.
Hexis	Ceramic Fuel Cells	Ceres Power	Acumentrics	Topsoe	Kyocera
The Hexis Galileo unit is a SOFC in which excess gas is burned within the fuel cell stack to allow a high degree of flexibility in the thermal output. The extremely high capital cost of these units means that the product faces significant challenges before approaching economic viability. Hexis, formerly Sulzer Hexis, is now an independent company following its financial difficulties in early 2006. Field trials are ongoing with a number of German utilities.	CFCL have established a marketing base and powder plant in the UK as well as a manufacturing facility in Germany. CFCL have supplied demonstration versions of their Netgen micro CHP package to energy utilities in Australia, New Zealand. and Germany. CFCL recently announced collaboration agreements with Gaz de France (France), EWE (Germany), and EON (UK) as well as boiler manufacturers Brunns (DE), Gledhill (UK) de Dietrich (France), and Paloma (Japan). Electrical efficiencies greater than 60% have been demonstrated.	A UK based developer with a "low temperature" SOFC using a supported membrane which claims to overcome the challenges of thermal cycling. However, this also means that it requires external reformation implying additional cost, complexity and loss of efficiency. Still at a relatively early product development stage, but planning to work with Centrica (British Gas) who have now acquired a 10% share in the company and placed a notional order for 37,500 units.	Recently signed deal with MTS, an Italian boiler manufacture, to develop a tubular design SOFC which may offer fabrication advantages. Tubular SOFC is also able to respond more rapidly to thermal cycling without damaging the ceramic components. In late 2007, Acumentrics presented their "wall-mounted" SOFC to a group of European utilities, and expected to trial their technology in 2008. Laboratory trials continue.	In addition to collaboration with Wartsila, the Finnish CHP company, Topsoe also recently announced their collaboration with Dantherm, the Danish air conditioning company on smaller, 1kWe units. A high temperature SOFC, the Topsoe cells are claimed to be extremely robust.	Osaka Gas are collaborating with Kyocera on field trials leading to launch in 2008-9 of their 0.7 kW SOFC micro-CHP system. Osaka Gas has yet to announce a launch date for their PEM fuel cell systems despite demonstrating several. This could be an indication that they recognise the inherent advantages of SOFC and, like others are moving towards that technology.

1.0kWe:2.5kWt (+20kWt)	Micro CHP 1.0kWe: 0.3kWt Bluegen APU 2kWe	1kWe	2kWe	1kWe	0.7kWe
Availability Field trials in DE, CH 2005 Laboratory re-design 2006	Availability Prototype packaged micro CHP system Commercial 2kWe APU (Bluegen) available now in limited volumes Micro CHP version 2012	Availability Laboratory demo stack	Availability Laboratory demo stack	Availability Prototype packaged micro CHP system of larger (20kWe) product	Availability Field trials in Japan

Page update 15th August 2008.