FuelCell Energy (FCE) is offering an alternative. The Connecticut-based firm has developed a new type of fuel cell that uses molten carbonate electrolytes. This electrochemical cell can capture CO2 from a power plant’s flue gas while generating additional electricity from natural gas, coal, or other fuels. The company has more than 100 US fuel-cell patents, big-name partners, and a soaring stock price. What it doesn’t have yet are profits or a marquee project that shows its technology pays off at commercial scale. FCE has been around for 52 years. It spent many of its early days working on batteries before spinning that division off to focus on fuel cells in 1999. The firm and its customers operate 50 molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) power plants that provide on-site electricity and steam or hot water. Most of the installations are in the northeastern US and California, along with several in South Korea and the European Union. FCE’s fuel cells have always been able to capture their own carbon because the fuel doesn’t directly mix with air. Using MCFCs to capture other CO2 is an idea that is getting increased interest from operators of power plants and boilers. Not surprisingly, FCE’s focus right now is on commercializing its carbon-capture technology, CEO Jason Few says. It’s also working on a reversible solid-oxide fuel cell that can consume hydrogen to produce electricity or turn around and consume electricity to produce hydrogen.
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