In the present work preliminary characterization tests, finalized to application as a residential micro-CHP system, are reported. Through systematic, parallel testing under predetermined conditions, laboratories at ENEA and the University of Perugia aim at establishing the real lifetime expectancy and performance characteristic of 1 kW-class SOFC stacks fed with natural gas from the grid, downstream of a specifically developed desulphurizer for the abatement of odorants. Through the assessment of material response and delivered power also at single cell level, it will be possible to establish and improve the behaviour in time of a SOFC system operated under realistic conditions. There is continuous feedback with both the system optimization engineers as with powder development chemists, in order to bring the concept swiftly and efficiently to market maturity, as well as prepare the basis for second generation systems with improved stack performance and durability.