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FuelCell Energy gets $5.9M grant for synthetic fuel projects

DANBURY — FuelCell Energy has been awarded a CA$ 5.9 million grant from Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Fuels Fund (CFF) to support two projects using its electrolyzer technology for synthetic fuel production (eFuel).

The projects, in collaboration with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Expander Energy, Nuclear Promise X, and St. Marys Cement, will focus on producing low-carbon-intensity synthetic diesel fuels. These fuels will use zero-carbon hydrogen produced through nuclear power and FuelCell Energy’s Solid Oxide electrolysis platform.

PtL or Synthetic drop-in ready fuels can be used as a replacement to, or blended into, current fuels such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil and other conventional fuels offering an immediate and substantial impact on emission reduction. Since fuels are CO2-neutral, they can be an effective decarbonization solution for transportation, high-grade heat applications, or residential and commercial heating where conventional fuels are used.

Jason Few, president and CEO of FuelCell Energy said, “These projects align perfectly with our mission to provide advanced, sustainable energy solutions to the world and will demonstrate the differentiated capabilities of our solid oxide platform to leverage nuclear power at 100% electrical efficiency, and the practicality and scalability of our technology.”

He added, “Canada’s commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility resonates with our core values, and we are proud to contribute our solid oxide electrolysis technology to these groundbreaking synthetic fuel endeavours.”

Biomass Gasification Project: This project will assess the feasibility of producing synthetic diesel fuel from biomass gasification combined with hydrogen from solid oxide electrolysis. It aims to determine the viability of constructing a plant capable of producing 550 barrels per day of synthetic fuel. A front-end engineering design will be conducted for a potential site, evaluating its economic feasibility and the possibility of scaling up.

Co-Electrolysis Demonstration: This project will test synthesis gas production using co-electrolysis, which combines water and carbon dioxide electrolysis. A 5 kWe electrolyzer will be installed at a St. Marys Cement facility to utilize CO2 from the cement plant’s flue gas emissions. The goal is to demonstrate the conversion of CO2 emissions into synthesis gas for further use in energy and feedstock production.

FuelCell Energy’s solid oxide technology, which is developed at its facilities in Calgary and Connecticut, will be utilized in these projects.