Technoeconomic Analysis of Discrete and Unitized Reversible Fuel Cells for Energy Storage Applications

Research output: NRELPresentation

Abstract

Reversible Fuel Cell (RFC) systems offer promising characteristics for stationary long duration energy storage applications. Two main configurations of RFC systems exist: discrete RFC systems and unitized RFC systems. While discrete RFC systems combine independent fuel cell and electrolyzer systems for energy storage, unitized RFC systems utilize a single electrochemical stack and might share balance of plant (BOP) components for both charging and discharging processes. While this configuration reduces upfront capital costs, challenges of unitized RFC designs include potential performance trade-offs due to dual-mode stack design and operational complexities across varying loads and operating conditions. Furthermore, these tradeoffs might be different for low-temperature PEM RFCs than for high-temperature reversible solid oxide cell systems. The goal of this project is to assess unitized RFC system potential in the context of long duration grid energy storage and HFTO's technical targets for different discrete fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies. This presentation presents preliminary review of state-of-the-art unitized RFC cells and assesses how they perform relative to HFTO's technical targets. It also presents literature-derived system configurations worth investigating. This review indicates that lab-scale unitized RFCs are making good progress towards meeting HFTO's technical targets.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages18
StatePublished - 2024

Publication series

NamePresented at the 2024 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting (AMR), 6-9 May 2024, Arlington, Virginia

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/PR-5400-89485

Keywords

  • long duration energy storage
  • PEM electrolyzers
  • PEM fuel cells
  • reversible solid oxide cells
  • solid oxide electrolysis
  • solid oxide fuel cells
  • unitized reversible fuel cells

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