World's first SOFC powered drone uses Elcogen technology

摘要

A consortium of Japanese companies and research institutes have developed and demonstrated the world's first solid oxide fuel cell powered drone capable of long flight times. The drone uses SOFCs supplied by Estonia-based Elcogen, with internal reforming of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) fuel. The SOFC powered drone (or unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV) has been developed by a consortium comprising Pro Drone Co Ltd, Atsumitec Co Ltd, Environmental Technology Center of Japan, National Research and Development Agency, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and Research Center for Functional Materials (part of the National Institute for Materials Science, NIMS).