Prospects for cost-competitive integrated gasification fuel cell systems. (15th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singh, Surinder P.; Ohara, Brandon; Ku, Anthony Y.
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 290(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05-15
• Subjects: IGFC -- SOFC -- Decarbonized system -- Technoeconomic analysis; AE Applied Energy -- ASC Anode Supported Cells -- ASU Air Separation Unit -- BNEF Bloomberg New Energy Finance -- Capex Capital Cost -- CCS Carbon Capture and Storage (CO2 Capture and Storage) -- CHP Combined Heat and Power -- COE Cost of Electricity -- EIA Energy Information Administration -- ES Energy Storage -- ESC Electrolyte Supported Cells -- FOAK First of a Kind -- GT Gas Turbine -- GW Giga Watt -- HHV Higher Heating Value -- IGCC Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle -- IGFC Integrated Gasification Fuel Cell Cycle -- kW Kilowatt -- kWh Kilowatt Hour -- LBNL Lawrence Berkley National Lab -- PAFC Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell -- LHV Lower Heating Value -- Li-ion Lithium Ion -- MCFC Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell -- MMBTU Million British Thermal Unit -- MSC Metal Supported Cells -- MW Mega Watt -- MWe Mega Watt Electric -- MWh Mega Watt Hour -- MWth Mega Watt Thermal -- NG Natural Gas -- Opex Operating Cost -- ORC Organic Rankine Cycle -- PC Pulverized Coal -- PNNL Pacific Northwest National Lab -- PV Photo Voltaic -- RMI Rocky Mountain Institute -- SOFC Solid Oxide Fuel Cell -- ST Steam Turbine -- TPC Total Plant Cost -- TRL Technology Readiness Level -- US DOE United States Department of Energy -- WGS Water Gas Shift; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116753
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: Technology development must be aligned with key trends in decarbonization. Costs reductions are needed. We rank options by value and feasibility. Reduction in fuel cell component costs is essential to commercial success. Fuel cell cost reductions are most important. Innovations in systems design and materials can also reduce cost. Abstract: Does generation of zero-carbon electricity from coal make sense for a decarbonized grid? Coal-based integrated gasification fuel cell systems with CO2 capture have the potential to participate in future decarbonized power grids. Over the next decade, such systems are scheduled to progress from a conceptual scheme to its first demonstration projects in China and Japan. A key issue in the long-term viability of the technology will be reducing costs so they are competitive against other forms of zero-carbon electricity; in addition, the systems must be able to operate as part of low carbon grids. We systematically evaluate the major on-going research directions, and rank them according to their economic potential, degree of technical challenge, and possible synergies with other efforts to transition to low-carbon energy systems worldwide. Our analysis indicates that the most promising pathway to making integrated gasification fuel cell technologies cost-competitive against other forms of low-carbon electricity is co-deployment of solid oxide fuel cell technologies in integrated gasification fuel cell cycle and distributed energy applications to expand the scale of production to a level that benefits both areas. Other avenues based on system optimization or improvements in fuel cell performance or degradation through materials development can help, but cannot by themselves deliver cost-competitive electricity absent an order of magnitude reduction in the cost of solid oxide fuel cell components.