Hydrogen can also be produced from coal. Coal can be converted to methane and then reformed into hydrogen that can power a fuel cell stack to produce electricity. More advanced technologies like IGCC have the potential to create a syngas that can be reformed into hydrogen and then electricity. FuelCell Energy uses ultra clean DFC fuel cells and natural gas reform technology to produce 1.2 MW for Pepperidge Farms. In 2006, Fuelcell Energy was awarded $36.2 million to develop a coal-based, multi-megawatt solid oxide fuel cell-based hybrid system. The system will use Solid oxide fuel cell technology, a process to convert coal to coal gas, and a 50 percent efficiency to convert energy contained in coal to grid electrical power. FuelCell may consider submitting the project too FutureGen. Another company, Siemens Power Generation is building a highly efficient fuel cell hybrid power plant that will product megawatts class power plant. The goal of the research project is to get a 70 percent of fuel energy to electricity conversion percentage. The system will be a hybrid high temperature SOFC system. “In solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), an electrochemical reaction converts fuel energy directly and very efficiently into electricity and heat.” In 2007, FuelCell Energy sold a 5.1 MW system (DFC 1500MA) to South Korea and partners with POSCO Power. The system meets strict greenhouse gas reduction targets. FuelCell Energy says, “Supplying our fuel cell products to Korea’s top utility companies is a clear demonstration of how utilities around the world can employ our ultra-clean fuel cell power to economically generate baseload power while helping support greenhouse gas reduction goals.” [Learn More ...]