Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell demonstrated at NAVFAC EXWC

Photo By Michael Ard | PORT HUENEME, Calif. – Robert Okwera, electrical engineer, MSEE, (right) an employee of Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, discusses the fuel cell energy storage system with Boeing, Advanced Technology Programs Energy Solutions Programs Manager Mark Kosko during the first live demonstration of the reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system held at NAVFAC EXWC, Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif., Jan. 28. After 16 months of development, Boeing has delivered a 50KW (scalable to 400KW) fuel cell energy storage system to EXWC for testing. The cell is being tested to determine its ability to support the energy needs of military and commercial customers. The system is the largest of its kind using a technology called a “reversible solid oxide fuel cell” to store energy from renewable resources (including wind and solar), producing clean, zero-emissions electricity. (U.S. Navy Photo by Michael Ard /released)  

PORT HUENEME, CA, UNITED STATES

01.28.2016

Story by Michael Ard 

Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center

PORT HUENEME, Calif. – The first live demonstration of the 50 KW (scalable to 400 KW) reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system was held at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, California, Jan. 28, 2016.

The manufacturers of the system, Boeing, Huntington Beach and Sunfire, Dresden, Germany, operated the system and answered questions from the attending NAVFAC EXWC personnel.

"The SOEC is a most promising technology for both remote islands and expeditionary applications," said Michael Cruz, EXWC project manager. "Combined with a solar photovoltaic array, a SOEC system generates electricity, potable water, and heat with only two inputs, sunshine and seawater."

The system is the largest of its kind using a technology called a “reversible solid oxide fuel cell” to store energy from renewable resources (including wind and solar), producing clean, zero-emissions electricity.

The system generates, compresses and stores hydrogen. When the grid demands power, it operates as a fuel cell, consuming the stored hydrogen to produce electricity. This technology is unique in being able to both store energy and produce electricity in a single system, making the technology “reversible.”

This first unit was commissioned on the Southern California Edison power grid at Boeing’s Huntington Beach, California, facility before being installed for further testing on the Navy’s "microgrid" at the NAVFAC, EXWC.

• Date Taken: 01.28.2016
• Date Posted: 02.03.2016 17:57
• Story ID: 187832
• Location: PORT HUENEME, CA, US