| Fuel cell focus


Weichai world first: commercial launch of high power metal-supported SOFC


In February 2023, Weichai (Chinese conglomerate with a major presence in the diesel engine business) announced the global commercial launch of its high power, 120 kW, metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), which uses technology developed by UK- based SOFC pioneer Ceres. Weichai Power is a strategic partner of Ceres and a major shareholder.


Weichai says the new SOFC system, intended


Solid oxide fuel cells in the Weifang Energy Group demonstration area


for stationary power applications, has achieved a combined heat and power efficiency of 92.55%, said to be a record for high power SOFC systems. The Weichai fuel cell has also received European CE certification from the international testing and certification organisation, TÜV SÜD. As well as having electricity generation efficiencies of over 60%, Weichai notes that SOFCs have the advantages of fuel flexibility (able to run on natural gas, hydrogen, coal gas,


biomass gas, and methanol) and avoidance of use of precious metals.


Weichai says its new offering is the world’s first commercial high power metal-supported SOFC, capable of being scaled up to megawatt- level power.


Weichai says the metal-supported SOFC technology has “outstanding advantages”, such as relatively low operating temperature (for SOFC), around 600°C, and strong resistance to thermal shocks, when compared with “traditional” electrolyte-supported and anode- supported systems.


The new SOFC can perform four times more start–stop cycles than competitors, says Weichai, and its “start-up speed” is more than three times that of rivals, reaching the “leading level” internationally, Weichai claims. Weichai’s SOFC product is said to have the advantages of high CHP efficiency, good reliability, wide fuel adaptability, stable output of electrical and thermal energy, and is suitable for a range of applications, such as industrial parks, large buildings, data centres, distributed generation and microgrids. Weichai’s SOFC product has been demonstrated in the Weichai Fuel Cell Industrial Park and on the site of Weifang Energy Group, accumulating more than 30 000 hours of operation.


AFC looks to H2


Alkaline fuel cell developer, AFC Energy, says deployments to date of its 10 kW H-Power Tower (launched last year) together with a growing pipeline of deployments contracted for 2023, “highlights the clear role hydrogen is set to play in supporting the decarbonisation of hard to abate industries such as construction.”


Based on customer feedback, the company says it is “working to deliver larger systems into 2023, building on the success of the H-Power Tower design.”


AFC Energy describes the H-Power Tower as an “energy dense, highly efficient off-grid power solution designed to displace fossil fueled generators.” The 10 kW version, targetted at construction and temporary power applications, comprises four AFC Energy “S” series air cooled fuel cell stacks with integrated battery storage. Early H-Power Tower deployments are being delivered under commercial lease hire agreements which, at present pricing, deliver a capital pay back within two years, AFC Energy says.


The company says during 2023 it will be working towards “a material reduction in capital cost per system, measured on a per kW basis, which, together with +50% efficiency achieved on fuel conversion in the field to date, creates a


parity with diesel


platform for a competitive total cost of ownership relative to peers.”


In a recent field deployment, one end-user, using real life data, compared the fuel costs of the H-Power Tower to their incumbent diesel generators, and, according to AFC Energy, concluded that the fuel cell’s fuel cost was “just a 14% premium to diesel, despite the current high pricing for hydrogen.” With a more competitively priced, longer term hydrogen supply agreement, “fuel cost parity could be achieved today”, AFC Energy believes.


Cracking the hydrogen supply problem


As well as hydrogen use in fuel cells, AFC Energy is also becoming increasingly active on the hydrogen supply side and has recently launched a new ammonia cracker technology platform, which it describes as “an innovative solution that will revolutionise ammonia crackers by enabling them to produce green hydrogen at scale” and “help overcome challenges related to hydrogen generation, storage, and transport.” AFC Energy says its cracker technology development has been accelerated in response to the material growth in ammonia imports recently contracted into Europe as a hydrogen


carrier fuel to support the EU’s sustainable energy policies and address energy independence challenges arising out of the Ukraine conflict.


However, say AFC Energy, the region is ill-prepared to exploit the increase in ammonia imports due to a lack of cracker capacity, a technology that has been in limited demand and has faced negligible investment in recent decades.


Above: AFC Energy’s


H-Power Tower


AFC Energy expects future demand for ammonia cracker technology to be substantial, with IRENA suggesting that by 2050, in the 1.5°C scenario, the market for ammonia as a fuel for maritime transport and for stationary power will be larger than all current markets for ammonia combined.


www.modernpowersystems.com | April 2023 | 35


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