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Page Updated:
20-Sep-2006
SPS Homepage > News 2004
Science
for Peace approves new projects
Among the sixteen new Science for Peace projects recently approved is a project to develop solid oxide fuel cells which will overcome the current technical barriers to their operation at low or intermediate temperatures. Such a development would lead to clean, reliable and highly efficient production of electricity and heat.
This three-year project brings together leading experts in fuel cell technology and energy security from Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, the United States and the United Kingdom. Their aim is to develop a solid oxide fuel cell capable of operating at lower temperatures (600-800°C) than currently possible (900-1000°C), which would improve reliability and reduce costs and thereby make the technology more viable for energy generation and supply. The use of such fuel cells would also save energy by making it possible to use as electricity some of the energy that is currently lost in power generation. Their use would also significantly reduce the amount of harmful pollution and greenhouse gases usually produced by power stations.
A key focus of the project is to use raw materials that are readily available in Ukraine, such as low-cost zirconium and scandium oxides (ZrO2 and Sc2O3) which will help keep costs down. Once the product has been commercialised, opening access to these powders to other partner countries wishing to produce and install the new fuel cell technology should lead to further industrial development and create jobs.
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