North Haven, CT (August 21st, 2021) – Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) announced today that it has been awarded a $2.4 million NASA Tipping Point contract to develop an advanced solid oxide fuel cell (A-SOFC) power system designed for lunar surface applications. The project supports NASA’s goal of enabling long-duration crewed missions by advancing technologies that generate power using in-situ and propellant-based resources.
The project, titled Propellant Fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (PropFC), focuses on delivering an air-independent SOFC stack that can directly utilize methane (CH4) and liquid oxygen (LOX) to produce reliable, high-efficiency power in the oxygen-deprived environment of the lunar surface. The project is conducted in collaboration with NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC) and Johnson Space Center (JSC) and aims to reach a Technology Readiness Level of 6 at the end of the program.
“Our advanced solid oxide fuel cell system leverages PCI’s core Microlith® technology to enable efficient power generation without atmospheric oxygen,” said Anthony Anderson, Director, Marketing and Business Development at PCI. “This approach provides a compact, rugged and efficient solution for critical energy needs on the Moon, where weight, volume, and resource independence are mission-enabling factors.”
The proposed system will be capable of operating directly on stored CH4/LOX propellants, as well as on gases produced through In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). By using these resources directly, the system avoids the need for additional fuel processing infrastructure, thereby reducing complexity and mass while supporting long term sustainable operations.
“Our collaboration with NASA under the Tipping Point program advances a core clean energy technology that meets the growing demands of surface operations in space,” said Kevin Burns, President of PCI. “This project builds on years of PCI’s advanced solid oxide fuel cell innovation and extends it into an application with lasting value for both space exploration and terrestrial energy systems.”
The Tipping Point Initiative is part of NASA’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative and is focused on maturing technologies that support Artemis objectives, including sustainable surface power, ISRU, and human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. PCI’s A-SOFC technology will be tested for thermal, structural, and electrochemical performance under extreme conditions to validate its readiness for future flight demonstrations.
About Precision Combustion, Inc.
Precision Combustion, Inc. is a clean energy and environmental technology company developing new reactors and systems for energy and environmental sector applications.
For more information, contact:
Anthony Anderson
Director, Marketing and Business Development
Phone: 203-287-3700 ext. 290
