This SBIR Phase I project will develop a Liquid Tin Anode Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (LTA-SOFC) to generate energy from biomass. The LTA-SOFC is an advanced fuel cell that has improved efficiency of directly generating electrical power from fuels such as biomass, diesel, natural gas, and coal. This project will study the efficiency of an LTA-SOFC to produce electricity from biomass for long periods of time, and to increase the power from Kilo Watts to Mega Watts.
The broader/commercial impact of this project will be the development of an efficient and cost effective electric power generating system based on the direct use of biomass. In addition, the LTA-SOFC will reduce carbon emissions.
The Liquid Tin Anode Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (LTA-SOFC) is a transformational energy technology that dramatically increases the efficiency and simplicity of power generation from gaseous, liquid and solid fuels. In biopower, the technology provides a pathway to improve efficiency and capital cost and also enables smaller scale applications. Phase I successfully demonstrated the feasibility of direct biomass conversion to power, using biomass feed stocks which can have significant societal, environmental and economic impacts. Specifically in Phase I several different types of biomass including poplar and switchgrass were used to generate power in an actual liquid tin anode fuel cell. Post-test analysis indicated no ash fusion and near 100% fuel utilization (little residual carbon left). Currently biomass contributes only 1% of U.S. electric power despite available resources to provide over 20%. Increased use of biomass for electric power will reduce carbon emissions, increase energy security and create domestic jobs. Efficiencies lower than 20% and high capital cost of today’s technology make conventional biomass power about twice as expensive as coal limiting market penetration to about 1%. Liquid tin anode solid oxide fuel cell (LTA-SOFC) Direct Biomass generators will reduce the cost of power and lower capital cost while reducing emissions and feedstock consumption by 2 to 3 times. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that by 2030, biomass will generate 4.5% of U.S electricity. This growth represents an available market for power modules like Liquid Tin Anode fuel cell (LTA-SOFC) of about $30 billion. CellTech’s commercialization strategy directly addresses the challenge of gaining sufficient capital to commercialize new energy technologies by starting with small devices and identifying motivated first adopters. Commercialization of small Liquid Tin Anode fuel cell (LTA-SOFC) units for military portable power markets is underway, in conjunction with established system integrators and suppliers. Growth into commercial markets will provide the maturity required for more demanding biomass power markets. In the biopower area military users have powerful adoption incentive that will encourage them to become early adopters. The US Department of Defense (DOD) has a goal to use renewable energy for 25% of the Department’s facility electrical consumption by 2025. This SBIR will reduce technical risk, providing confidence for integrator partners to co-invest in commercialization of Liquid Tin Anode Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (LTA-SOFC) biomass generators.
