Fuel cell stack assembly

A method of forming a metal supported solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly comprising the steps of:

• (a) assembling:
• (i) a metal base plate;
• (ii) an at least one fuel cell stack mounted on the base plate;
• (iii) an at least one expansion plate;
• and
• (iv) a metal end plate;
• each at least one expansion plate arranged between the base plate and the end plate, each at least one fuel cell stack arranged mounted between said base plate and said end plate, and comprising at least one fuel cell stack layer, each at least one fuel cell stack layer comprising at least one fuel cell and at least one electrically insulating compression gasket,
• (b) applying a compressive force through the at least one fuel cell stack using a compression means;
• (c) attaching a skirt to and between the base plate and the end plate to enclose the at least one fuel cell stack;
• and
• (d) removing the compression means so that the compressive load on the at least one fuel cell stack is maintained through tensile forces in the skirt;
• wherein the at least one expansion plate has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the skirt, and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the skirt is greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the at least one fuel cell stack.