Clean energy from coal and biomass

The directcarbon Fuel Cell (DCFC) converts fuel to electricity directly rather than burning it to boil water to make steam to turn a turbine, to turn a generator, to produce electricity. The DCFC can convert solid fuels to electricity at 70% efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions by 50% without sequestration.

Operations began in 2006 at Stanford University and at the Company's lab in Menlo Park in 2007. Tests are continuing on various grades of coal, wheat and rice straw, corn stover and wood.

Key advances

• No burning required
• Uses half the amount of fuel
• No water is needed
• CO₂ emissions are capture-ready
• Small, localized powerplants