Technology

Fuel cells are an excellent way to efficiently convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Early designs for fuel cells used hydrogen and oxygen as the chemical fuels. However, the relative unavailability of hydrogen and the high cost of catalysts and membranes have limited the widespread adoption of fuel cell technology. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) utilize conventional hydrocarbon fuels, such as methane, propane, butane, fermentation gas, ethanol, and gasified biomass. However, today's SOFCs operate at high temperature (~1000°C), requiring the use of high-cost materials that can withstand the high temperature and associated corrosive environment and thermal stress. SiEnergy's patent pending technology will allow SOFCs to operate at much lower temperatures, with resulting reductions in the size and cost of these systems. These low temperature SOFCs will become practical for many application areas, such as the following:

• Power generation in a combined heat power system (CHP) for hospitals and facilities where independent power source is critical and economical
• Power source for small vehicles, such as forklifts, scooters, recreational vehicles
• Auxiliary power unit and backup power for marine and land mobile applications

At smaller scales and lower temperatures, SOFCs may eventually provide power for portable electronics.

SiEnergy's approach uses silicon-based micro-scale fabrication technology that allows high efficiency, low temperatures, and low cost. Design flexibility allows power levels to be tailored to the needs of specific applications.