Solid Oxide Technologies for Fuel Cells, Electrolyzers, Electrochemical Reactors and for CO2 Emission Reduction and Reuse (EFCF 2022)

The 15^th European SOFC & SOE Forum (EFCF2022), featuring Solid Oxide Technologies, Fuel Cells (SOFC), Electrolyzers (SOE), Electrochemical Reactors, CO₂ Emission Reduction and Reuse, took place 5 -8 July 2023 in Lucerene, Switzerland, and was chaired by Julie Mougin and Jérôme Laurencin, both from the CEA, French Atomic and Alternative Energies Commission, Grenoble, France.

After a virtual 14^th edition in 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2022 conference took place in person in Lucerne, for the greatest pleasure of all 525 attendees.

The 2022 edition was also a special event, due to the international context. Indeed, it has been confirmed that hydrogen, already identified as a key element by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the European Hydrogen Week 2021, is one of the main pillars of the “RePowerEU” plan intending to save energy, produce clean energy, and diversify energy supplies in the context of the war in the Ukraine. This plan will involve a large number of technologies for hydrogen production, storage and transport, at various scales and for different applications (for more information see also: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/repowereu-affordable-secure-and-sustainable-energy-europe_en).

Solid Oxide Electrolysis technology can play a key role for a cost-competitive clean hydrogen production thanks to its high efficiency. It can also contribute to the generation of synthetic fuels or molecules of interest, with the specific asset of steam and CO₂ co-electrolysis to produce syngas (composed of H₂ and CO). In addition to their high efficiency, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are also characterized by a large fuel flexibility, including non-carbon based liquid fuels like ammonia, which can also contribute to limit the CO₂ emissions of several sectors. Finally, reversible systems can be considered combining electrolysis and fuel cell modes, which are particularly relevant when using intermittent renewable energy sources.

Thanks to decades of research efforts from materials up to the complete system, SOFC and SOE technologies have gained in maturity. It was reflected by the conference, gathering 253 communications, respectively 117 oral and 136 poster presentations, in a well-balanced program covering technology development and scientific achievements, from fundamental research to the latest achievements in terms of demonstrations (www.efcf.com).

On one hand, sessions were devoted to the technology status at industry, the system design or the stack performances and lifetime, while on the other hand, sessions were dedicated to the cell and material developments, with the support of modeling and advanced characterization. Therefore, the conference provided a global overview of the current SOC technology developments and offered the possibilities for fruitful discussions between researchers, industrial partners and end-users.

Following the conference, a number of participants were invited to submit their contributions for this Special Issue of Fuel Cells – From Fundamentals to Applied Systems. The articles for this special issue were selected to reflect the broad scope of the conference and its motto: “From materials to systems including modeling and advanced characterization”.