FuelCell Energy's CEO Participates in Panel Discussion with World Economic Forum

President & CEO Jason Few recently participated in a World Economic Forum panel discussion in conjunction with the release of WEF’s second Net-Zero Industry Tracker report. The report provides a detailed analysis of the progress heavy industrial and transport sectors are making worldwide in their efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The panel discussed progress so far and what will be required for heavy industry and transport sectors to achieve the significant 2050 goal.

Jason commented that industrial sectors need to continue to thrive, and we must find ways to help them decarbonize and create the scale that can rapidly bring down costs to enable adoption in the market. ?He also emphasized that to create the change required by 2050, there must be a broad spectrum of resources and technologies used to make that happen.

Fuel cells will have several roles in the path to net zero.? As low carbon hydrogen becomes available as an energy carrier, fuel cells are the most efficient way to make power from that hydrogen, and they do not produce the NOX emissions associated?with hydrogen combustion. Fuel cells can also use hydrocarbon fuels with carbon capture, and some fuel cells are capable of capturing CO2 from other emissions sources.?

FuelCell Energy has been collaborating with Exxon on developing carbonate fuel cell technology for point source carbon capture applications. This first-of-its-kind solution is distinguishable from other carbon capture technologies, because it does not require additional energy to operate. Instead, the FuelCell Energy platform can capture carbon emissions from the exhaust streams of coal or gas-fired power plants while simultaneously producing clean power. Power generation improves the net cost of capture economics, making the fuel cell a practical solution on the path to net-zero.

CO2-containing flue streams, like combustion exhaust, can be directed to the fuel cell, where electrochemical reactions produce electricity and hydrogen while capturing and concentrating carbon dioxide for utilization or permanent sequestration. The modular design of the technology allows it to scale for use in a wide range of locations and enables high efficiency operation while permitting businesses in hard-to-decarbonize industrial and commercial sectors to advance their goals.? In addition to co-production of power, the platform can also be configured to co-produce water and hydrogen, additional value streams which will play a key role in the path to net zero.