Review of Progress in High Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Solid oxide fuel cell technology is now entering commercialisation with a large number of units installed and undergoing evaluation despite the high cost of the technology. The residual challenges, apart from the high cost, relate to life time and thermal cycling capability of the device. The major market concentration of this type of fuel cell is in base load stationary applications due to the limited load following capability. The technical and commercial status of the solid oxide fuel cell technology has been reviewed with specific emphasis on materials of construction, technical and commercialisation targets. Briefly, the technical status of a sister technology the direct carbon fuel cells which utilises solid carbon fuel and is based on solid oxide electrolyte, has also been discussed.