IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i10p2493-d1654142.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Review of Electrochemical Systems for Grid Scale Power Generation and Conversion: Low- and High-Temperature Fuel Cells and Electrolysis Processes

Author

Listed:
  • Tingke Fang

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA)

  • Annette von Jouanne

    (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA)

  • Alex Yokochi

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA)

Abstract

This review paper presents an overview of fuel cell electrochemical systems that can be used for clean large-scale power generation and energy storage as global energy concerns regarding emissions and greenhouse gases escalate. The fundamental thermochemical and operational principles of fuel cell power generation and electrolyzer technologies are discussed with a focus on high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) that are best suited for grid scale energy generation. SOFCs and SOECs share similar promising characteristics and have the potential to revolutionize energy conversion and storage due to improved energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. Electrochemical and thermodynamic foundations are presented while exploring energy conversion mechanisms, electric parameters, and efficiency in comparison with conventional power generation systems. Methods of converting hydrocarbon fuels to chemicals that can serve as fuel cell fuels are also presented. Key fuel cell challenges are also discussed, including degradation, thermal cycling, and long-term stability. The latest advancements, including in materials selection research, design, and manufacturing methods, are also presented, as they are essential for unlocking the full potential of these technologies and achieving a sustainable, near zero-emission energy future.

Suggested Citation

  • Tingke Fang & Annette von Jouanne & Alex Yokochi, 2025. "Review of Electrochemical Systems for Grid Scale Power Generation and Conversion: Low- and High-Temperature Fuel Cells and Electrolysis Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-33, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:10:p:2493-:d:1654142
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2493/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2493/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mateusz Wnukowski, 2023. "Methane Pyrolysis with the Use of Plasma: Review of Plasma Reactors and Process Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-34, September.
    2. Haji, Shaker, 2011. "Analytical modeling of PEM fuel cell i–V curve," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 451-458.
    3. Abbasi, Tasneem & Abbasi, S.A., 2011. "'Renewable' hydrogen: Prospects and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(6), pages 3034-3040, August.
    4. Tingke Fang & Annette von Jouanne & Emmanuel Agamloh & Alex Yokochi, 2024. "Opportunities and Challenges of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Integration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-20, November.
    5. M. S. Dresselhaus & I. L. Thomas, 2001. "Alternative energy technologies," Nature, Nature, vol. 414(6861), pages 332-337, November.
    6. van Biert, L. & Visser, K. & Aravind, P.V., 2020. "A comparison of steam reforming concepts in solid oxide fuel cell systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    7. Wang, Yun & Chen, Ken S. & Mishler, Jeffrey & Cho, Sung Chan & Adroher, Xavier Cordobes, 2011. "A review of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Technology, applications, and needs on fundamental research," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 981-1007, April.
    8. Rokni, Masoud, 2013. "Thermodynamic analysis of SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell)–Stirling hybrid plants using alternative fuels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 87-97.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tang, Jia & Yang, Mu & Yu, Fang & Chen, Xingyu & Tan, Li & Wang, Ge, 2017. "1-Octadecanol@hierarchical porous polymer composite as a novel shape-stability phase change material for latent heat thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 514-522.
    2. Tingke Fang & Coleman Vairin & Annette von Jouanne & Emmanuel Agamloh & Alex Yokochi, 2024. "Review of Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-25, April.
    3. Samanta, Rajib & Mishra, Ranjit & Manna, Biplab Kumar & Barman, Sudip, 2022. "IrO2 modified Crystalline-PdO nanowires based bi-functional electro-catalyst for HOR/HER in acid and base," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 151-160.
    4. Pitchai Ragupathy & Santoshkumar Dattatray Bhat & Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, 2023. "Electrochemical energy storage and conversion: An overview," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(2), March.
    5. Quach, Thai-Quyen & Giap, Van-Tien & Keun Lee, Dong & Pineda Israel, Torres & Young Ahn, Kook, 2022. "High-efficiency ammonia-fed solid oxide fuel cell systems for distributed power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    6. Hosseinzadeh, Elham & Rokni, Masoud & Rabbani, Abid & Mortensen, Henrik Hilleke, 2013. "Thermal and water management of low temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell in fork-lift truck power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 434-444.
    7. Abid Rabbani & Masoud Rokni, 2014. "Modeling and Analysis of Transport Processes and Efficiency of Combined SOFC and PEMFC Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-21, August.
    8. Xiaoqin Si & Rui Lu & Zhitong Zhao & Xiaofeng Yang & Feng Wang & Huifang Jiang & Xiaolin Luo & Aiqin Wang & Zhaochi Feng & Jie Xu & Fang Lu, 2022. "Catalytic production of low-carbon footprint sustainable natural gas," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    9. Wang, Yujie & Sun, Zhendong & Li, Xiyun & Yang, Xiaoyu & Chen, Zonghai, 2019. "A comparative study of power allocation strategies used in fuel cell and ultracapacitor hybrid systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    10. Peng, Fei & Zhao, Yuanzhe & Li, Xiaopeng & Liu, Zhixiang & Chen, Weirong & Liu, Yang & Zhou, Donghua, 2017. "Development of master-slave energy management strategy based on fuzzy logic hysteresis state machine and differential power processing compensation for a PEMFC-LIB-SC hybrid tramway," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 346-363.
    11. Sung-Fu Hung & Aoni Xu & Xue Wang & Fengwang Li & Shao-Hui Hsu & Yuhang Li & Joshua Wicks & Eduardo González Cervantes & Armin Sedighian Rasouli & Yuguang C. Li & Mingchuan Luo & Dae-Hyun Nam & Ning W, 2022. "A metal-supported single-atom catalytic site enables carbon dioxide hydrogenation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    12. Cala, Anggie & Maturana-Córdoba, Aymer & Soto-Verjel, Joseph, 2023. "Exploring the pretreatments' influence on pressure reverse osmosis: PRISMA review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    13. Zhang, Xiaoqing & Yang, Jiapei & Ma, Xiao & Zhuge, Weilin & Shuai, Shijin, 2022. "Modelling and analysis on effects of penetration of microporous layer into gas diffusion layer in PEM fuel cells: Focusing on mass transport," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    14. Liao, Shuxin & Qiu, Diankai & Yi, Peiyun & Peng, Linfa & Lai, Xinmin, 2022. "Modeling of a novel cathode flow field design with optimized sub-channels to improve drainage for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    15. Mingfei Li & Jingjing Wang & Zhengpeng Chen & Xiuyang Qian & Chuanqi Sun & Di Gan & Kai Xiong & Mumin Rao & Chuangting Chen & Xi Li, 2024. "A Comprehensive Review of Thermal Management in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Focus on Burners, Heat Exchangers, and Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-30, February.
    16. Zheng Huang & Laisuo Su & Yunjie Yang & Linsong Gao & Xinyu Liu & Heng Huang & Yubai Li & Yongchen Song, 2023. "Three-Dimensional Simulation on the Effects of Different Parameters and Pt Loading on the Long-Term Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    17. Vasallo, Manuel Jesús & Bravo, José Manuel & Andújar, José Manuel, 2013. "Optimal sizing for UPS systems based on batteries and/or fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 170-181.
    18. Ahmadi, Pouria & Dincer, Ibrahim & Rosen, Marc A., 2014. "Thermoeconomic multi-objective optimization of a novel biomass-based integrated energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 958-970.
    19. Bae, Suk Joo & Kim, Seong-Joon & Lee, Jin-Hwa & Song, Inseob & Kim, Nam-In & Seo, Yongho & Kim, Ki Buem & Lee, Naesung & Park, Jun-Young, 2014. "Degradation pattern prediction of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack with series reliability structure via durability data of single cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 48-55.
    20. Yan, Peijian & Tian, Pengfei & Cai, Cheng & Zhou, Shenghu & Yu, Xinhai & Zhao, Shuangliang & Tu, Shan-Tung & Deng, Chengwei & Sun, Yi, 2020. "Antioxidative and stable PdZn/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst coatings concerning methanol steam reforming for fuel cell-powered vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:10:p:2493-:d:1654142. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.