• fuel cell
• Life Cycle Assessment
• microtubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
• mSOFC

Fuel cell Auxiliary Potential Unit (APU) systems are used to produce energy when the energy is not necessary for the propulsion. The aim of using fuel cells APU systems is the reduction of atmospheric emissions, which are produced by the traditional engines.
In the SAPIENS project a microtubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (mSOFC) APU is developed and integrated in a camper-van in order to recharge the leisure battery.
In this study we have compared the environmental impact of the SAPIENS APU system against a conventional one, using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.
The results show the relevance of the use phase as contributor to the overall environ-mental profile together with the contribution due to the energy consumption occurring the production phase of the microtubes of the mSOFC stack and the components of the Balance of Plant (BoP).