News

Solid-Oxide Fuel Cells Receive DOE Support

July 20, 2004 by Jeff Shepard

A new phase of research grants was awarded from the US Department of Energy (DOE, Washington, DC) to help forward the technology that should make zero-emissions energy more available to the commercial market. Eleven projects, including private-sector cost-sharing of more than 20%, split a total grant package of $4.2 million. The total works out to approximately $300,000 per project, though not all of the grants were for the same amount.

Selected by the DOE's Solid-State Energy Conversion Alliance Program (SECA), the grant-winning projects are focused on developing improvements in fuel cell materials and performance, as well as attaining target capital costs of less than $400 per kilowatt. The DOE says that any of these advances should make fuel cells extremely competitive with conventional power generation.