The Danish Government has decided that 50% of electricity consumption shall be covered by wind energy by 2020, and the entire energy system must be 100% covered by renewable energy by 2050.
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) can play a key role in this transition. Since wind is a fluctuating energy source, it is necessary to balance the energy grid using other energy soruces. SOFC systems are very well suited to quickly adjust the electricity production up or down to smooth out the fluctuations. They produce heat and power with high efficiency with fuels such as natural gas and biomass, and they can additionally used to store energy. The goal of this project is to improve the life and reduce the cost of SOFC systems to make the technology ready for the future energy system.
The work includes the analysis and modeling of the mechanisms that limit lifetime, systematic testing of cells and stack components under accelerated or alternating operating conditions, development of test methodologies and diagnostic tools, improvement and optimization of system performance and survival values, and finally system design and analysis.