Fuel cells, and especially solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), have advantages over conventional electricity generation technologies as they promise to have:
- High electrical efficiency
Electrical efficiencies above 50% can be obtained in stand-alone units and above 70% in gas turbine hybrids.
- Fuel flexibility
A wide range of fuels, including natural gas, biogas, diesel, LPG, methanol, DME and ethanol, can be used.
- Low emissions (CO2, NOX, sulphur, CO, VOC, UHC)
Compared to conventional power generation, the high efficiency and the mode of operation cut emissions per kW electricity produced by a SOFC fuel cell.
- Low noise
A fuel cell system only has few moving parts. This means that fuel cells have a potential to be quieter than for example internal combustion engines and gas turbines.
- High reliability
Fewer moving parts make the SOFC system inherently reliable and cut maintenance cost.
- Competitive price
In SOFC, no rare or strategic raw materials are used, and the power density is high. Therefore, SOFC is projected to be cost competitive when developed and manufactured in significant quantities.
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