Toward high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cells: A comprehensive review of hybrid integration techniques

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have emerged as highly effective and eco-friendly technologies for electricity generation, featuring high fuel flexibility and scalability. However, individual units of SOFCs face significant issues like high operating temperatures, degradation of materials, and slow transient response. To counter challenges and increase operational efficiencies, hybrid integration schemes have received considerable scholarly attentions. This review presents an exhaustive and critical assessment of advanced hybrid SOFC configurations and their implications in enhancing system performance, efficiency, and lifespan. The manuscript examines different hybrid approaches, such as SOFC-gas turbine (SOFC-GT) hybrid schemes, combination of heat and power (SOFC-CHP), double hybrid cycles (SOFC-CC), trigeneration (CCHP), and hybrid models of SOFC-battery. The integration strategy of each of these approaches is compared relative to design architecture, thermodynamic synergy, fuel utilization, waste heat recovery, and environmental aspects. The assessment is further extended to emerging energy ideas like CO2 capture, simultaneous hydrogen production, and biomass-based hybrid schemes with the goal of supporting long-term sustainability, enabling low-carbon energy transitions and decarbonization. The conclusions of this review outline considerable technological challenges, such as thermal management challenges, sealing problems, material interactions, and system control complexity. By synthesizing cutting-edge model studies, experimentation, and techno-economic studies, this manuscript outlines promising avenues to boost hybrid SOFC technologies. The results suggest outstanding enhancement of electrical efficiency (70 %) and overall system efficiency (90 %) attainable by hybridization. Finally, this review provides an essential source and guideline to promote transition to clean energy technologies of the future by maximizing advantages of hybrid SOFC platforms.