Establishment of a site for prototype production of solid oxide fuel cells.
Objectives
Successfully demonstrate civilian applications for solid oxide fuel
cells using prototypes and ultimately develop full-scale production
of SOFCs in Snezhinsk.
Create up to 22 new jobs for scientific specialists from the All
Russia Scientific and Research Institute of Technical Physics (VNIITF)
to work in the prototype production facility.
Summary
CNCP team members are working with VNIITF on the development of a prototype solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The DTI grant to VNIITF supports the establishment of a SOFC prototype production, assembly and testing facility. A SOFC Development Team, including 20 staff, has been supported by VNIIEF for the past 13 years. The niche target application of the design is a tubular 1-5 kWt SOFC stack to provide power for Gazprom's pipeline cathodic protection and telemetry requirements. To date, VNIITF has only produced a small number of prototypes. In order to advance the technology, they need to provide a large number of fuel cells to experimental power generators. The DTI grant will allow VNIITF to produce up to 5,000 SOFCs per year.
The potential benefit of fuel cells as an alternative source of energy has been acknowledged by a growing number of companies over the years. Some large, well-known multinational companies, and a handful of smaller specialist technology companies, are involved in various types of fuel cell development.
Cost
The DTI is funding the total cost of the project, which is £200,000.
Duration
24 months - May 2004 - May 2006.
Beneficiary
VNIITF, Snezhinsk
Project Consultant
Geoff Crocker, HTSPE Ltd.
Project Director
Greg Kaser, HTSPE Ltd.
Project Manager
Patrick Gray, HTSPE Ltd. Alexander Tsibulya, HTSPE Ltd. Vladimir Chukharev, VNIITF
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