This study demonstrated the feasibility of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operating on fuels gasified from a carbon-bed containing a renewable biomass. Coconut shell carbon was used as the renewable biomass for the gasification to power the SOFC at 800 degrees C. The study was particularly focused on the effect of catalysts on the efficiency of the gasification process, thus the performance of tubular SOFC powered by these gasified fuels. SOFCs with catalysts such as Fe2O3 and K2CO3 added coconut shell carbon showed higher power density compared to that without catalyst. The improved cell performance can be ascribed to a promoted carbon conversion rate by the catalysts, and consequently higher concentration of gaseous fuels. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.