The Status of SOFC Development at Versa Power Systems

Borglum, Brian; Tang, Eric; Pastula, Michael

doi:10.1149/1.3205509

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…This ASR value is relatively low, but not unrealistic. For example, zirconia-electrolyte solid oxide fuel cells 21 and stacks 22,23 operating from 750-800 1C have achieved 0.2-0.3 O cm 2 at 1 bar and recently developed solid oxide cells with alternative electrolytes have achieved 0.2 O cm 2 at temperatures from 600-650 1C at 1 bar. 10,24 Also recently developed intermediate-temperature ReSOCs can yield suitable performance.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large-scale electricity storage utilizing reversible solid oxide cells combined with underground storage of CO₂ and CH₄

Jensen

Graves

Mogensen

et al. 2015

Energy Environ. Sci.

253

137

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Electricity storage is needed on an unprecedented scale to sustain the ongoing transition of electricity generation from fossil fuels to intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Today pumped hydro is the only commercially viable large-scale electricity storage technology, but unfortunately it is limited to mountainous regions and therefore difficult to expand. Emerging technologies like adiabatic compressed air energy storage (ACAES) or storage using conventional power-to-gas (P2G) technology combined with underground gas storage can be more widely deployed, but unfortunately for long-term to seasonal periods these technologies are either very expensive or provide a very low round-trip efficiency. Here we describe a novel storage method combining recent advances in reversible solid oxide electrochemical cells with sub-surface storage of CO 2 and CH 4 , thereby enabling large-scale electricity storage with a round-trip efficiency exceeding 70% and an estimated storage cost around 3 b kW À1 h À1 , i.e., comparable to pumped hydro and much better than previously proposed technologies. Broader contextToday about 2/3 of the global energy consumption is based on fossil fuels and only a minor fraction on renewable energy sources. With a growing consensus among countries that it is time to act and decrease greenhouse gas emissions to avoid uncontrollable climate changes, it is clear that the necessary transition towards renewable-based energy infrastructures has just begun. However, as intermittent wind and solar power displace fossil fuels, the need for storage to balance the gap between supply and demand increases. This is in particular the case for the electricity sector, where no widely available, energy efficient and cheap large-scale electricity storage technology exists. The present work analyzes the reversible electrochemical conversion of H 2 O and CO 2 to CH 4 inside novel pressurized solid oxide cells combined with subsurface storage of the produced gasses, showing that it should be possible to store about 3 months of electricity (500 GW h) with a round-trip efficiency greater than 70% and a storage cost around 3 b kW À1 h À1 . With the expected rise in arbitrage due to increasing balancing demands and consequent price fluctuations, the technology should eventually become economically viable. In summary, this disruptive new energy storage technology can facilitate a seamless transition towards a fossil-free future.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large-scale electricity storage utilizing reversible solid oxide cells combined with underground storage of CO₂ and CH₄

Jensen

Graves

Mogensen

et al. 2015

Energy Environ. Sci.

253

137

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“…Thus, the electrode resistances combined should be #0.15 U cm 2 . Current anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells used in stack demonstrations are close to meeting the proposed cell resistance criterion-two different reports showed overpotentials of $0.15 V at 0.5 A cm À2 when operated at 750 C, 26,27 corresponding to $0.3 U cm 2 . Furthermore, pressurization of the gases and the use of pure oxygen will significantly improve electrode performance.…”

Section: Cell Performancementioning

confidence: 69%

“…Note that 0.5 A cm À2 is used here since it is typical of current solid oxide fuel cell system technologies that are at a near-commercial level of development. 26,27 If the cell resistance is higher, then either the current must be decreased, lowering the power capacity of the device, or the overpotentials increased, decreasing the efficiency.…”

Section: Cell Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

High efficiency electrical energy storage using a methane–oxygen solid oxide cell

Bierschenk

Wilson

Barnett

2011

Energy Environ. Sci.

175

129

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Reversible solid oxide cells (SOCs) are potentially useful for electrical energy storage due to their good storage scalability, but have not been seriously considered due to concerns over round-trip efficiency.Here we propose an SOC storage chemistry where the fuel cycles between H 2 O-CO 2 -rich and CH 4 -H 2rich gases. The unique feature is the formation of CH 4 during electrolysis, a less endothermic process than the usual H 2 -or CO-forming reactions, enabling improved efficiency. Thermodynamic calculations and preliminary experiments show that the CH 4 -rich storage chemistry is produced during SOC operation at reduced temperature ($600 C) and/or increased pressure ($10 atm). Balance of plant storage system requirements are discussed briefly.

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“…Versa Power Systems: progress towards SECA targets in 2009. The performance, cost and durability still need to be improved before the system can be commercialised33…”

Section: Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Fabrication–microstructure–performance relationships of reversible solid oxide fuel cell electrodes–review

Gamble

2011

Materials Science and Technology

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A reversible solid oxide fuel cell system can act as an energy storage device by storing energy in the form of hydrogen and heat, buffering intermittent supplies of renewable electricity such as tidal and wave generation. The most widely used electrodes for the cell are lanthanum strontium manganate-yttria stabilised zirconia and Ni-yttria stabilised zirconia. Their microstructure depends on the fabrication techniques, and determines their performance. The concept and efficiency of reversible solid oxide fuel cells are explained, along with cell geometry and microstructure. Electrode fabrication techniques such as screen printing, dip coating and extrusion are compared according to their advantages and disadvantages, and fuel cell system commercialisation is discussed. Modern techniques used to evaluate microstructure such as threedimensional computer reconstruction from dual beam focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy or X-ray computed tomography, and computer modelling are compared. Reversible cell electrode performance is measured using alternating current impedance on symmetrical and three electrode cells, and current/voltage curves on whole cells. Fuel cells and electrolysis cells have been studied extensively, but more work needs to be done to achieve a high performance, durable reversible cell and commercialise a system.

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The Status of SOFC Development at Versa Power Systems

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

Large-scale electricity storage utilizing reversible solid oxide cells combined with underground storage of CO₂ and CH₄

Large-scale electricity storage utilizing reversible solid oxide cells combined with underground storage of CO₂ and CH₄

High efficiency electrical energy storage using a methane–oxygen solid oxide cell

Fabrication–microstructure–performance relationships of reversible solid oxide fuel cell electrodes–review

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The Status of SOFC Development at Versa Power Systems

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

Large-scale electricity storage utilizing reversible solid oxide cells combined with underground storage of CO2 and CH4

Large-scale electricity storage utilizing reversible solid oxide cells combined with underground storage of CO2 and CH4

High efficiency electrical energy storage using a methane–oxygen solid oxide cell

Fabrication–microstructure–performance relationships of reversible solid oxide fuel cell electrodes–review

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Product

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Large-scale electricity storage utilizing reversible solid oxide cells combined with underground storage of CO₂ and CH₄

Large-scale electricity storage utilizing reversible solid oxide cells combined with underground storage of CO₂ and CH₄