Coal Without Combustion

This article focuses on various researches that have been undertaken to study and test use of fuel cells instead of boilers for cheap and clean electricity production. One of the most ambitious projects is the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA), created by the U.S. Department of Energy to clear the technical hurdles that have kept fuel cells impractical. Compared to other government research programs, SECA has an unusual structure. The program unifies several organizations to work toward a common goal, yet retains a healthy spirit of competition to drive progress and spur innovation. By developing fuel cells to operate efficiently and cost effectively on the fuels that dominate today’s power industry, the hope is that the program can help meet pressing environmental and energy-security needs while building a bridge to a low-carbon economy. SECA’s recent successes demonstrate that it’s only a matter of time before solid oxide fuel cell technology achieves its commercial potential. Indeed, it’s possible that Solid Oxide Fuel Cells could reach high enough standards of efficiency and economy to entirely replace conventional combustion as the primary means of generating electricity in the USA.