Fuel Cell Arrives in Fairbanks

Submitted by Dennis Witmer
Phone: (907) 474-7082
07/28/03

A five-kilowatt solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that holds promise as a method of providing reliable, affordable energy for remote areas of Alaska has arrived in Fairbanks. It’s one of the first of its kind in the U.S. and is funded through the University of Alaska Fairbanks Arctic Energy Technology Development Laboratory (AETDL) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy.

"We’re excited that it’s here," said Dennis Witmer, director of AETDL. "The university has been conducting fuel cell research for more than five years and now we’re one step closer to making the technology available."

SOFCs are more efficient and reliable than other types of fuel cells, but until recently, have been successfully demonstrated only on larger systems operating on natural gas. UAF researchers plan to take the technology even further by testing SOFCs operating on methanol, propane or diesel fuel making this technology even more attractive to businesses and communities in remote areas.

"Solid oxide fuel cells operating on natural gas have about 50 percent efficiency," said Witmer. "With high efficiencies and much-reduced pollution emissions these solid oxide fuel cell power products should be attractive to rural communities currently using diesel generators operating at about 30 percent efficiency at best."

Witmer says there are some drawbacks to the technology. Fuel cells are expensive and difficult to manufacture. However, as the technology matures and the manufacturers bring down the costs, the benefits are expected to outweigh the disadvantages.

"In Alaska there are several niche markets," said Witmer. "For example, there’s potential for using fuel cells to supply power for corrosion protection and communications along the trans-Alaska oil pipeline corridor. It’s a matter of assuring the users that this technology is highly reliable, environmentally friendly and more cost effective in these markets."

The SOFC unit is housed at Fairbanks Natural Gas (FNG) in Fairbanks. Personnel with FNG have completed most of the installation and are supplying the natural gas to the unit. "We’re looking at future potential uses of natural gas and see the fuel cell as another option," said Dan Britton, president of FNG. The fuel cell was manufactured by Fuel Cell Technologies, Ltd. in collaboration with Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp. "Siemens manufactures the core fuel cell stack technology, much like an engine in a car. FCT then supplies all other subsystems that keep the fuel cell stack operating successfully, known as the balance of plant of the product," said Gary Allen, director of sales at FCT.

The project was among $2 million in projects funded under recent proposals submitted to AETDL. UAF’s Institute of Northern Engineering is also participating in the study.

CONTACT: Dennis Witmer, director AETDL, at (907) 474-7082, or e-mail ffdew@uaf.edu or Brent Sheets, National Energy Technology Laboratory’s Arctic Energy Office at (907) 452-2559 or e-mail: brent.sheets@netl.doe.gov.