Fuel cell staging for molten carbonate fuel cells

A method for producing electricity, the method comprising:

• introducing an anode input stream comprising H2, a reformable fuel, or a combination thereof into a first anode stage of a plurality of molten carbonate fuel cell stages;
• introducing a cathode input stream comprising O2 and CO2 into a first cathode stage of the plurality of molten carbonate fuel cell stages;
• passing a second anode input stream into a second anode stage of the plurality of molten carbonate fuel cell stages;
• passing an intermediate cathode output into a second cathode stage of the plurality of molten carbonate fuel cell stages;
• and
• operating the plurality of molten carbonate fuel cell stages to generate i) electricity at an average current density of 60 mA/cm2 or more with respect to one or more fuel cell stages of the plurality of molten carbonate fuel cell stages, ii) an anode exhaust from the plurality of molten carbonate fuel cell stages comprising H2, CO, and CO2, and iii) a cathode exhaust from the plurality of molten carbonate fuel cell stages comprising a CO2 content of 2.0 vol % or less, a H2O content of 1.0 vol % or more, and an O2 content of 1.0 vol % or more, at least one of the first cathode stage and the second cathode stage being operated at a transference of 0.97 or less.