According to Bill Dawson, President/CEO of NexTech, “Completion of this important project positions NexTech to move forward in both the commercial and military power markets. NexTech has developed and demonstrated its planar 2-kW level SOFC stack, as well as internal reforming of methane.” NexTech plans on working with system integrators to develop products for remote power, transportation auxiliary power unit (APU), combined heat and power, and large commercial stationary applications using its sulfur tolerant, high-performance stack technology.

Plug Power determined the system requirements and the process design and developed the balance of plant for the unit, which operated on both hydrogen and methane. According to Dr. William D. Ernst, V.P. and Chief Scientist for Plug Power, “This project provided an excellent opportunity for us to evaluate the potential for the innovative SOFC technology developed by NexTech to satisfy the market requirements for continuous power systems.” 

SOFC systems offer potential performance advantages for power applications where the use of commonly available fuels is required. They have been demonstrated to produce power at the highest efficiency of any fuel cell and can operate on natural gas and propane. Work is underway to utilize coal gas, diesel, gasoline and kerosene fuels in these environmentally friendly fuel cell systems. 

Partners in this project included the Ohio Department of Development, who provided essential seed funding through the Third Frontier Program, and Case Western University, who will develop testing methodologies to help minimize development cycle time through work at the Wright Fuel Cell Group.