SOFCs for the Renewable Energy Transition

Denmark has committed to supplying 50% of electricity consumption by wind power by 2020, with the goal of supplying 100% of all energy types by renewable sources by 2050. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can play a key role during this transition. Because wind power is a fluctuating source, as it scales up, other energy sources will need to be operated in a fluctuating manner to balance the grid hence the need for a “smart grid” to manage this balancing act. SOFCs are suitable to ramp the electrical power output up and down to match the fluctuations. They can efficiently provide combined heat and power (CHP) using natural gas and biomass, and can be further developed to provide energy storage in the future. The goal of this project is to further improve the cost and lifetime of SOFCs to make the technology ready as a key player in this transition. The project work entails analysis and modelling of lifetime-limiting mechanisms, systematic testing of state-of-the-art cells and stack components in accelerated and fluctuating operation modes, development of relevant test methodologies and diagnostic tools, improvement and fine-tuning of device performance and lifetime, and system design and analysis.