Fuel cell system and method for operating the same

A fuel cell system comprising:

• a hydrogen generating unit configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using a raw material;
• a heater configured to heat the hydrogen generating unit;
• an air supply device configured to supply an oxidizing gas;
• a fuel cell configured to generate electric power by the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generating unit and the oxidizing gas supplied from the air supply device;
• an electric power generation start command unit configured to receive a command of start of an electric power generating operation of the fuel cell system, via a manual operation of an operator, the electric power generating operation being interconnected with a power supply system;
• and
• a controller including processing circuitry and a memory storing a program, wherein the program, when executed by the processing circuitry, causes the controller to:
• control the heater to maintain a temperature of the hydrogen generating unit within a predetermined temperature range and the fuel cell to perform a stand-by operation without causing the fuel cell to generate the electric power, before the electric power generation start command unit receives the command of the start of the electric power generating operation via the manual operation of the operator, wherein the temperature of the hydrogen generating unit by the heater is equal to or higher than a threshold at which the hydrogen generating unit is able to generate the hydrogen-containing gas;
• and
• cause the fuel cell to execute the electric power generating operation interconnected with the power supply system when the electric power generation start command unit receives the command of the start of the electric power generating operation via the manual operation of the operator.