The main objective of this project is to design, assemble and demonstrate a novel 60 kW SOFC power plant based on an all-European value chain from component manufacturers to end-users, with significant cost reductions, improved efficiency and longer life-time compared current SOFC systems. The specific objectives of the project are:

•  Design and manufacturing of 60 kW SOFC system with 60% electrical and 85% total efficiency.
•  System and components enabling for a lifetime of 30000 hours and two-years continuous operation without planned shut-downs. 
•  System efficiency and life-time validation according to IEC standards in 3000 hours demonstration.
•  At least 30% reduction in system costs, below 4000 €/kW  stack costs 
•  Stack life-time and performance validation in 10000 hours test.
•  Identification of most promising end-users and applications for stationary SOFC systems.
•  Efficient all-European SOFC value chain from component manufacturers to end-users
•  Boost market penetration of stationary fuel cell products and services 

The ambition of this project is to make a radical improvement in the SOFC technology to make the SOFC units truly competitive on the distributed power market and increase competitiveness of related European industry. This leads to significant:

•  Cost reductions, within INNO-SOFC project, SOFC system will be simplified by decreasing the number of components and overall complexity to a minimum, leading to a product that is suitable for real serial-production. These measures together with developments in manufacturing methods and components will lead to 35-60% cost reduction compared to current SotA (6000-10000 €/kW in FCH JU Multi Annual Work Plan) and enable the system cost decrease down to 4000 €/kW in and below in serial-production. This cost structure is also very well in line with FCH 2 JU New Industry Group’s strategy for 2023 (3500-6500 €/kW system cost). Significant part of system costs is caused by stacks and therefore a big part of INNO-SOFC project is focused on cost optimization of SOFC stack manufacturing, leading to 2000 €/kW stack costs in serial production. These cost levels enable successful market penetration and are a key for wide scale commercialization of SOFC technology. Above mentioned cost levels will be achieved already below 1 MW annual production level. At higher production levels, costs will be naturally lower. 
•  Efficiency performance and lifetime, INNO-SOFC project leads to many significant technical improvements compared to current SotA, including 30000 hours operating time, with two years continuous operation, 60% electrical efficiency, and 85% total efficiency. Efficiency, performance, and life-time of the system and its key components will be validated according to IEC standards in conditions that are relevant for end-users. Proof of reliability and durability of the system will be achieved in 3000 hours demonstration. Life-time of key-components, i.e. stacks will be validated in 10000 hours tests to ensure 30000 hours operating time. Current technical SotA values listed in the FCH-JU Multi-Annual Work Plan are 40-45% for electrical efficiency, and 64-80% for total efficiency, so the INNO-SOFC project will lead to ambitious improvements also in these technical values. Thus the project results in new products and services which will be a considerable improvement.