FuelCell Energy, ExxonMobil Extend Carbon Capture Partnership

Danbury-based FuelCell Energy and ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company have agreed to continue on a joint development agreement to commercialize carbonate fuel cell technology for carbon capture from industrial facilities.

The two companies have collaborated on technology development for several years as part of a commitment to reducing carbon emissions worldwide.  

The initial $60 million development agreement focused on optimizing the core technology, overall process integration, and large-scale deployment of carbon capture solutions. 

Now the companies said they will extend the agreement through March 31, 2024.

The extension enables further development related to manufacturing scale-up and work towards advancing the carbonate fuel cell technology for point source carbon capture applications against a broader set of opportunities, including lower carbon intensity flue streams. 

Joint Technology 

Carbonate fuel cells can efficiently capture and concentrate carbon dioxide from external sources. 

CO2-containing flue streams can then be directed to the fuel cell, where electrochemical reactions produce electricity and hydrogen, while capturing and concentrating carbon dioxide for utilization or permanent sequestration.

“We are extremely pleased that our jointly developed carbon capture technology has been found to be feasible for the commercial usage we are targeting and look forward to working with ExxonMobil towards a potential demonstration project,” said FuelCell Energy president and CEO Jason Few. 

“We are excited about the promise of this technology to capture CO2 emissions from industrial and commercial exhaust streams.”

FuelCell Energy’s Jason Few

“The focus on solutions for industrial businesses to reduce their emissions continues to grow, and we are excited about the promise of this technology to capture CO2 emissions from industrial and commercial exhaust streams,” said Few.  

The extended development also provides additional marketing and sales efforts, as well as performance improvement and cost optimization.

The companies said they are working on finalizing the engineering and cost elements of a potential demonstration of the technology. 

A final investment decision is expected later this year.