The feasibility of coupling a processor for internal indirect reforming of ethanol/water with molten carbonate fuel cells has been verified by several experiments. Two different Rh/Al2O3 catalysts have been prepared and characterised. Several tests to measure the catalytic activity on ethanol steam reforming process have been performed both on alumina and supported catalysts. The tests evidenced that ethanol can be decomposed and steam reforming process can be obtained at well determined conditions of temperature and catalyst load. The 5% Rh/Al2O3 catalyst produced, at 923 K, hydrogen rich gas mixture, that can be considered of high interest for molten carbonate fuel cell applications because it is free from any production of ethylene or other undesirable products. Further, this interest has been confirmed by the good results obtained in the long-term tests carried out on the 5% Rh/Al2O3 catalyst. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.