FuelCell Energy Announces $3.0 Million Award for Carbon Capture Utilizing Direct FuelCells
October 17, 2011FuelCell Energy, Inc. has announced a $3.0 million award from the US Department of Energy to evaluate the use of its Direct FuelCells (DFC) to separate carbon dioxide from the emissions of coal-fired power plants. FuelCell Energy’s molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) technology separates and concentrates carbon dioxide as a side reaction during the power generation process. Research by the company has demonstrated that this is a viable technology for efficient carbon capture from a variety of industrial flue gases. The research also showed that the fuel cell technology can help destroy the nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the flue gas. The DoE award will fund further research into using DFC to treat flue gas from existing coal-fired power plants in a cost-effective way. Conventional carbon capture technologies are costly and energy-intensive; fuel cells offer the potential to mitigate carbon emissions while generating power, rather than consuming it. The three-year research project will involve system design, cost analysis, and long-term testing of a multi-kilowatt DFC stack, with funding occurring in stages upon reaching certain progress milestones. Successfully attaining the project goals of capturing at least 90% of the emitted carbon dioxide within the DoE’s cost targets may lead to a demonstration [...]









