"Hyper-coal", produced by the Kobe Steel Company, was investigated by analytical and physico-chemical methods to consider its potential usability as a fuel for a direct carbon fuel cell with solid oxide electrolyte (DC-SOFC). The performed tests showed that DC-SOFCs fed with this processed fossil coal were characterized by stable operation with reasonable current and power densities. The performance of the fuel cells can be improved by using iron as a catalyst for the anodic reaction and by the choice of appropriate working conditions. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.