Fuel Cell Energy Efficiencies reach 63%

In June 2009 Japan's Nagoya based NGK Insulators, LTD. announced they have now developed a SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) that has produced a lower heating value (LHV) of 63%, the best performance ever for fuel cells. PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) generally produce around 55-60% energy efficiencies.

NGK has managed to lower the cell's electrical resistance by coating individual anodes with a thin film of zirconia and placing cathodes on both sides of a cell (cell pictured above.) To smooth the gas flow inside the sell they have created flow channels inside the cell itself.

Stacks using this prototype are able to continuously generate 700 watts at 800°C and will be commercially produced by 2012. Cell thickness is thin at 1.5mm. Although not producing as clean a energy production as PEMFC whose input is hydrogen and oxygen and output is water, the Solid Oxide used here is a valuable improvement to fuel cell development.