Large Stationary Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Power Plants

Abstract

This chapter presents the current status of large-size stationary solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems and provides guidelines based on initial European experience in this sector. The authors refer to non-residential systems, usually in the range of tens of kW to MW size. Both commercial buildings and industrial applications are found within this sector. Even if Asia is the most active area for stationary SOFCs (due to widespread residential SOFC projects), the analysis on large SOFC stationary plants picks out the USA as the homeland of the market, with a large number of completed installations from Bloom Energy in the last 7 years, especially in California, thanks to the “fuel cells” dedicated program (State of California Self-Generation Incentive Program, SGIP). California has now more than 200 MW of fuel cell-based systems and world-renowned companies like Apple, eBay, IKEA, and Coca-Cola have installed the Bloom Energy SOFC system. Pacific Asia is also trying to enlarge the market by pushing research on pressurized hybrid plants (LG Fuel Cell Systems and Mitsubishi-Hitachi Heavy Industries): recent installations and projects confirm the interest in this technology. The chapter’s first section shows the current status of large-size stationary SOFC companies and installations across the world, based on the most recent declarations and news from the industry. In Europe, the first industrial size biogas-fed SOFC system was installed in 2017 within the framework of the DEMOSOFC project. The chapter provides a complete description of the plant layout, including the biogas purification system, the 58 kWe SOFC module, the heat recovery section, and the electrical layout. Preliminary results from the first thousand hours of operation are presented in terms of purification outcomes, SOFC efficiency and emissions and island mode operation. The chapter ends with a summary of criticalities, strengths, and guidelines for the large-size SOFC systems market.