Joint development

Wärtsila and Topsoe Fuel Cell are committed to joint development of competitive SOFC technology aiming to demonstrate and commercialize SOFC systems with an electrical output of 50 kW and larger. 

The joint development activities focus on areas where the synergy from combined knowledge and development effort results in faster development of technically superior and cost competitive products.

Targets

The joint development is based on system analysis which aims at optimizing the system from an end-user point of view. Key targets are to achieve high energy efficiencies, system reliability and a competitive cost of ownership.

Key focus areas in the joint development include: 

• the overall system layout
• the fuel processing system ranging from natural gas and landfill gas to methanol
• the stack and system interface
• the module comprising stacks and selected hot system components

Projects

Wärtsilä and Topsoe Fuel Cell have cooperated for several years.

The partnership resulted in testing of the world's first 20 kW system based on planar SOFC technology. The test was completed successfully.

Delivery of stacks continues for both 20 and 50 kW systems. The partners have made great learning progress in developing and operating 20 and 50 kW prototypes, and this knowledge is utilized in the future stack and system development.