SECA Coal-Based Multi-MW SOFC Power Plant Development

Coal is one of the primary sources of electric power generation in the world. FuelCell Energy is developing a cost-competitive, highly efficient, multi-MW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power system using coal-derived synthesis gas. Design of the coal-based SOFC plant is to include greater than 90 percent CO2 separation from the coal-derived syngas as a prerequisite to carbon sequestration. Focus. of the coal-based SOFC power plant development is on SOFC cell and stack scale-up and optimization, stack manufacturing capacity development, and MW class module engineering design and development. Simultaneously, power plant engineering is being conducted for design of a baseline multi-MW (similar to 400 MWe) power plant with near zero emissions. Currently, scale-up of SOFC cell area and stack size (number of cells) and fuel cell improvements for both performance and longevity in operation are being implemented in the core fuel cell technology. Also, preliminary engineering design and analysis for a 5 MW proof-of-concept SOFC power plant system is being conducted.