review · International Journal of Energy Research
Global dependence on depleting fossil fuels has driven the search for cleaner, more cost-effective power generation technologies with low environmental impact. Hydrogen has emerged as a promising fuel to support international efforts to curb carbon emissions, leading to increased investment in fuel cell technologies. Within this landscape, solid oxide fuel cells have demonstrated commercial viability at a small scale. Understanding their core elements, including component materials, cell design, operational characteristics, and integration strategies with conventional thermal power plants, is essential for expanding their utility. Evaluating these systems across both standalone and hybrid configurations reveals their current performance potential as well as existing operational limitations. Ongoing research and commercialisation initiatives seek to address these constraints, positioning solid oxide fuel cell systems as reliable, sustainable solutions for long-term power generation.
Transitioning to sustainable energy systems requires low-emission alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. Solid oxide fuel cells provide an efficient method to convert fuels like hydrogen into electricity. Understanding how these systems perform on their own or when paired with existing thermal power infrastructure helps clarify practical paths toward broader decarbonisation in energy generation.
Solid oxide fuel cells are already commercially viable at small scales, offering immediate opportunities for decentralised power. Their application potential also includes integration into existing thermal-based power plants to enhance operational efficiency. Power plant operators and distributed energy providers represent primary prospective users. While small-scale deployment is established, broader adoption in hybrid utility-scale configurations remains bounded by technical limitations that require continued development.
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The increasing global dependence on fossil fuels for energy has prompted researchers to explore alternative power generation sources that offer higher efficiency, cost‐effectiveness, and low environmental impact. Developed countries have been making continuous efforts to reduce their reliance on depleting fossil fuel sources to curb carbon emissions. As a result, hydrogen has gained significant attention among researchers as a potential future fuel that meets all the necessary criteria. Many countries aiming for a hydrogen economy have invested in research on fuel cells. Among various fuel cells, the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has emerged as a commercially viable power source at a small scale. This paper provides an extensive review of the components, materials, design, operation, and integration strategies of SOFCs with existing thermal‐based power plants. The performance and prospects of various SOFCs in standalone and hybrid modes are summarized, along with the limitations. Additionally, the research and commercialization efforts that can enhance the potential applications of SOFCs as a sustainable and reliable system in the long term are outlined.
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DOI: 10.1155/2024/6443247
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