Development and Manufacturing of SOFC-Based Products at SOFCpower SpA

Abstract

SOFCpower SpA provides efficient energy solutions based on its proprietary planar SOFC technology. The company focuses on products that use natural gas either for heat and power generation (CHP) or for distributed power generation at high electrical and total efficiencies. The company develops and manufactures SOFC power modules in close collaboration with both European heat appliance OEMs and utilities. With several years of operational experience in running its pilot plant in Italy, SOFCpower has consolidated its manufacturing know-how and capabilities and has confirmed the competitiveness of its products, capable to match target market requirements and being sold and operated with grid parity prices. Collaboration with Industrial component suppliers and integrators has largely increased in intensity within the last 2 years, key success factor for reaching the required cost and reliability targets for the stationary market. First units have been installed since 201, operating as sheltered field tests in the North-East of Italy within the frame of the Crisalide Initiative. Those activities will be strongly enlarged with the participation in the FCH-JU demonstration project ENE.FIELD started in October 2012. SOFCpower is also involved on strategic development activities to demonstrate the added value of its product for different applications including high temperature electrolysis (HTE), biogas and waste-to-energy (WTE) applications. The paper provides an update of the stack and system development, including operational results of SOFC-based micro-CHP and the approach to enter the distributed cogeneration market.