Applications and markets for solid oxide regenerative fuel cells

Abstract

To avoid the approaching oil infrastructure crisis, alternate energy supply scenarios and energy use patterns will have to be embraced. Fuel cells will undoubtedly play a major role in such a change. Regenerative Fuel Cells (RFCs) coupled to renewables could be one of the technologies having an impact in easing the approaching energy supply difficulties. RFCs have been researched for ∼50 years but are not yet found in the marketplace. There are multiple reasons for lack of market penetration, including: economic, efficiency, and durability. Solid Oxide Regenerative Fuel Cell (SORFC) test results to date, combined with volume cost projections for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), indicate that several applications can be competitively met with SORFC systems. These applications include on-grid and off-grid distributed energy storage with or without co-produced hydrogen fuel; high altitude long endurance military and commercial aircraft and airships; and nuclear submarine life support and regenerative energy storage.