The Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) - A U. S. Department of Energy Initiative to Promote the Development of Mass Customized Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for Low-Cost Power

The Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) was initiated in the fall of 1999 to encourage the development of environmentally friendly solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) modules for use with commonly available fossil fuels at low cost. In order to quickly achieve the necessary manufacturing volume to reduce costs to commercially acceptable levels it was decided that a mass customized base module applicable to stationary, mobile, and corollary military needs was required. A 3–10kW base module was selected due to judgements on the upper size limit of highpower density ceramic based cells, a lower limit of economic selfsustainability, and considerations that indicated this size range had broad applicability in the three targeted sectors. Larger systems would consist of multiples of this base module. Substantial independent research and development work has been in progress for many years on the various components of solid oxide fuel cells. The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide support to encourage the formation of Industrial Teams that have the necessary components to develop, design, and manufacture the complete module and establish markets in as many of three targeted sectors as possible. Since it is not clear which solid oxide fuel cell technology has the best chance for success, multiple independent teams will be funded. A second component of the SECA Program will be the Core Technology Program that will fund independent research and development work in close support of the Industrial Teams. The U. S. DOE’s Strategic Center for Natural Gas, part of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will lead the Alliance. Initial Industrial Team selections will be made in April of 2001.