CX-100740 Categorical Exclusion Determination

Modular Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) System for Efficient Hydrogen Production at High Current Density
Award Number: DE-EE0007646
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Fuel Cell Technologies Office
Date: 8/18/2016
Location(s): CT
Office(s): Golden Field Office

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCE) to demonstrate the potential of a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) system to produce hydrogen at low cost by improving stack endurance and subsystem robustness capable of handling intermittent renewable energy sources. Project work would occur at FCE’s facility in Danbury, Connecticut and at the Versa Power Systems, Ltd (Versa) pilot facility in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Project activities include SOEC stack and materials design, development, fabrication, and testing; systems development and optimization; techno-economic analyses; and the design, testing, and demonstration of a SOEC system at FCE’s facility. All research and development activities would take place in existing facilities designed for this type of research; therefore, no new permits, additional licenses and/or authorizations would be necessary. Minimal internal modifications at the FCE facility would be needed but there would be no physical modifications to the Versa facility. Facilities where project activities would occur have environmental health and safety policies and procedures in place. These policies and procedures include employee training, proper protective equipment, and engineering controls. No ground disturbing activities, no changes in operation of existing facilities, and no installation of equipment outdoors would occur at either of the facilities involved in the project. Project activities would require the handling of hazardous materials but all such handling would occur in-lab and would pose no risk to the public. The facilities have appropriate hazardous material handling and disposal practices in place and all hazardous materials and chemicals would be managed in accordance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Produced hydrogen gas would be oxidized into water prior to venting and oxygen would be diluted with air or nitrogen prior to venting. Other non-hazardous wastes would be disposed of in accordance with established guidelines at each facility. DOE does not anticipate any impacts to resources of concern due to the proposed activities of the project.