Frequent Q&A

Carbonate fuel cells separate and concentrate carbon dioxide from the exhaust stream of an industrial source, making the carbon dioxide easier to capture and pipe underground. The fuel cell also generates low carbon power, hydrogen and heat.

Carbonate fuel cells are different from other commercially available CCS technologies because they can generate electricity, hydrogen, and useful heat while capturing CO₂.This increases the overall efficiency of the capture process and provides additional value streams that reduce the effective cost of carbon capture and storage. CFC technology is also modular, which enables carbon capture across a wide range of deployment scales. These unique features of the CFC technology increase the attractiveness of carbon capture projects and make such projects more accessible for widespread industrial application.

The Rotterdam pilot will mark the first time carbonate fuel cell technology is used to capture CO₂ from a working industrial site. Pending a successful pilot, ExxonMobil and FuelCell Energy could commercialize the CFC technology to help other companies reduce their emissions.

The carbonate fuel cell pilot plant will be constructed adjacent to an existing hydrogen plant at Esso Netherlands’ manufacturing complex in Rotterdam. Carbonate fuel cells will separate the CO₂ from a flue gas stream of the refinery and concentrate the CO₂. The captured CO₂ will be transported and stored under the North Sea via the Porthos project.

The carbonate fuel cell technology has the potential to make a significant contribution to reducing process-related CO₂ emissions in industry. Large-scale lower emission solutions require substantial investments. Funding will enable further research and development in a pilot plant to make the CFC technology market-ready for wider application in industry. This could serve the broader societal goal of reducing emissions from industry.