Funding Kicker for Fuel Cells

21 July 2004

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced eleven new fuel-cell research projects valued at nearly $4.2 million, including private-sector cost-sharing of more than 20 percent, focused on solving remaining issues in developing solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems for commercial use.

These are not the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) cells most often discussed as the solution for propulsion power in vehicles. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells have been primarily targeted for use in centralized power generation and distributed cogeneration situations. However, over the past few years there has been a surge of interest in using SOFCs as Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) on long haul trucks to reduce idling emissions, and some of the new grants appear targeted at this application. (Earlier post.)

DOE started down this path in late 1999 and early 2000 with the creation of the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance, and initial funding (over the 10-year project period) of some $300 million, plus private sector matching. These new projects fit into the SECA work, which was designed from the outset to have three distinct phases.

[DOE] has formed the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) with a goal of producing a core solid-state fuel cell module that could be produced at a cost of no more than $400 per kilowatt. At this cost, fuel cells would compete with gas turbine and diesel generators and likely gain widespread market acceptance.

SECA’s goal is to have this ultra-low cost fuel cell concept ready for commercial application by 2010.

A summary of the new projects and the awards is here.