Next-generation Solid Oxide Fuel Cell stack and hot box solution for small stationary applications

OxiGEN aims at developing an innovative SOFC technical platform, including an all-ceramic stack design and a modular hotbox, for small stationary applications. Thanks to its higher durability and simpler design, this novel stack can fulfill the customers’ needs for long lifetime, high efficiency and low cost, in micro-CHP and other segments. A broad pan-European consortium of seven major players (ICI Caldaie, R&D centers Fraunhofer-IKTS, EIFER, CEA Liten, SINTEF, utility ENGIE, global ceramist and project coordinator Saint-Gobain) will partner to integrate the allceramic stack into an original hot box solution. Functional specifications will be set by a qualified Advisory Panel, gathering European system integrators and gas utilities in addition to the JRC and other consortium members. The solution’s design will be modular and will address the specifications and standards suggested by the Advisory Panel, in order to provide a technical platform serving several market segments while fostering open competition between industry players. This new platform is of European ownership and leverages a European supply chain, thus supporting the emergence of a European fuel cell industry fully independent from Asian fuel cell technology.

The projects’ technical objectives address all the call challenges:

Define, with input from the Advisory Panel, the most suitable hotbox functional specifications for residential and commercial segments
Develop a higher power stack to reach the call’s technical targets
Develop a modular hot box concept and build a 1kWe prototype (in practice, 500We to 1500We depending on preferred micro-CHP power specification)
Assess the performance of the prototype in system-like conditions
Study the cost-of-ownership of the solution
Propose material-based solutions for future long-term improvements
Ensure the manufacturability and compatibility of the new hotbox with the EU supply chain
Disseminate results and build the exploitation plan

Topic:

FCH-02-9-2017: Development of next-generation SOFC stack for small stationary applications

Coordinator:

Société Européenne des produits refractaires (FR)

Other participating organisations: