EPRI perspective

EPRI has sponsored fuel cell R, D ampersand D since the Institute was founded in 1972. At the present time, most of EPRI's technical efforts are aimed at the development, demonstration and commercial introduction of MCFC for dispersed generation applications in the U.S. electric utility. EPRI staff are monitoring the operation of the larger scale PAFC power plant demonstration activities in part to provide pertinent information to our utility clients and in part because these plants include technology developed under past EPRI- sponsored programs. EPRI's current activities in SOFC are limited to fundamental and applied research on materials and fabrication processes. A significant portion of the EPRI work involves interacting with utility clients with two objectives in mind: first, to define and identify utility applications best suited to the technical and operational characteristics of fuel cells, and second, to use this information to define (and refine) the technical and operational requirements as a means to guide our fuel cell R, D ampersand D program and to help manufacturers provide optimum products