SOFC's bumpy road and hopeful future - A case study

Our world largely runs on fossil fuels with 60-80% of our electricity from burning coal and natural gas. The 2015 Paris Accords intensified greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) have wide fuel choices and less complicated reforming subsystems. SOFC can also be potentially and effectively operated as solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), coupling with renewable energy sources, for example, solar and wind, and storing renewable energy in chemical form (e.g. hydrogen). However, several leading international SOFC developers have abandoned their commercialization efforts. This paper is an attempt to address and discuss concerns both from a technological and economic standpoint. Considering the rapid population growth, expected increase in energy demand and price and greenhouse gas reductions need, SOFC could play a critical role in the transition from fossil fuel era to renewable energy era.