Co-Production of Renewable Hydrogen and Electricity: Technology Development and Demonstration

Co-production of renewable hydrogen, electricity and heat (CHHP) using internal-reforming, high-temperature fuel cells offers a potentially attractive option for the hydrogen infrastructure. The multiple co-products enhance the overall value proposition and help to mitigate the stranded assets issue. High temperature fuel cell (DFC (R)) systems produce their own hydrogen internally using a synergistic system integration approach. When the excess hydrogen is separated, a submegawatt co-production plant (called DFC-H2 (R)) can co-produce 125 kg/day of hydrogen and 250 kW of power, with a combined hydrogen, power and heat efficiency of 80-85% and ultra-low emissions. A proof-of-concept co-production plant using conventional separation technology has been operated for > 8,500 hours at FCE. Electrochemical Hydrogen Separation (EHS) systems, currently under development at FCE, can separate the excess hydrogen produced in the DFC (R) system with relatively lower energy consumption.