Next-generation fuel cells ready for low-emission electricity production

The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, under the INNO-SOFC project and in collaboration with Convion and Elcogen, is developing a new-generation, long-life fuel cell system offering efficiency higher than that of competing technologies. The project aims to develop new, energy-efficient and commercially viable applications.
November 25, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

The 814 VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, under the INNO-SOFC project and in collaboration with Convion and Elcogen, is developing a new-generation, long-life fuel cell system offering efficiency higher than that of competing technologies. The project aims to develop new, energy-efficient and commercially viable applications.

Fuel cells are used to generate low-emission electricity and heat. Thus far, the adoption of such systems into widespread use has been hindered by their short service life and high price. These factors have been made the key development areas of the INNO-SOFC project, which was launched in September and is funded by the EU and managed by VTT. The target is set to double the service life and halve the cost of fuel cell systems and enable the emergence of commercial applications.

VTT, in collaboration with Elcogen and other European partners and Convion, will develop a 50 kW fuel cell system that will have an efficiency of 60 per cent for electricity production and a total efficiency of 85 per cent. Elcogen will deliver the core of the system, the fuel cells. VTT will act as the project coordinator, supporting the R&D of the companies participating in the project and validating the service life of the system and the cells.

The new fuel cell system will generate normal alternating current and will be able to be used in several different applications. Fuel cells can be used to generate electricity and heat from methane produced by biomass at wastewater treatment and biogas plants. In addition to biogas, the distribution of liquefied natural gas will enable the use of fuel cell systems outside the current gas network.

Compared with competing systems, such as generators powered by a combustion engine, fuel cell systems exhibit a high efficiency level, low emissions, low noise and low vibration levels. Improved efficiency is especially pronounced in applications smaller than 1,000kW in power, in which fuel cells may exhibit efficiency double that of competing technologies and produce CO2 emissions that are correspondingly lower. Other emissions, such as particles, nitrogen oxides and noise, also remain at very low levels.

Other participants in the project include Dutch Energy Matters, Italian ENEA, Dutch ElringKlinger and Forschungszentrum Jülich.

The project, which commenced in September 2015, is scheduled for completion in April 2018.

Related Content

  • October 29, 2012
    European Parliament test drives fuel cell vehicles
    The 5th Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Drive ‘n’ Ride event was recently held in Strasbourg, France, under the patronage of Brian Simpson, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and chair of the European Parliament’s transport and tourism committee, to demonstrate the readiness of fuel cells and hydrogen as a viable route to zero emission transport in Europe.
    Read More
  • July 29, 2015
    Rapid progress with pure electric buses
    China is where most of the hybrid and pure electric buses will be made and sold over the coming decade, as discussed in the report by IDTechEx Research, Electric Buses 2015-2025. Given the concentration of government support on long pure electric range from hybrids and the far simpler pure electric buses, the latter are proving very popular. Indeed articulated and double decker buses are available in pure electric form in China. According to the latest statistics from the Chinese bus industry, the total
    Read More
  • December 4, 2015
    Emissions ‘rising too high despite the reduction targets’
    An analysis by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland of the emission targets from 159 countries indicates that, although nearly all the world’s countries have announced targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, more ambitious emission reductions are needed in order to limit global warming to two degrees. In addition, developing countries have recently joined the effort to slow down climate change by setting targets for reducing emissions. However, despite those targets, VTT says emissi
    Read More
  • April 14, 2021
    Jenoptik up to speed with fuel cell deal
    Agreement with SFC Energy sees speed measurement systems powered off-grid
    Read More

Highlighted Content