Soc stack comprising connection plate

Solid oxide cell stack comprising a plurality of stacked single repeat units, each single repeat unit comprises a solid oxide cell and an interconnect, one interconnect separates one cell from the adjacent cell in the cell stack, wherein the solid oxide cell stack further comprises at least one connection plate enabled to provide uniform electrical connection across the cross sectional area of the solid oxide cell stack between said solid oxide cell stack and an adjacent end plate and the connection plate is further enabled to provide gas sealing around at least one manifold hole in said solid oxide cell stack, wherein said connection plate comprises at least one gasket zone, comprising a hole in the connection plate corresponding to a manifold hole, and comprising at least one gasket and surrounding said at least one manifold hole, wherein the thickness of said gasket zone during compression of the solid oxide cell stack is equal to the thickness of the connection plate.