For a planar solid-oxide fuel cell (PSOFC)-based power system, the differences in the response times of the PSOFC stack, the power electronics subsystem (PES), and the balance-of-plant subsystem (BOPS) cause low-reactant conditions near the PSOFC electrodes during load transients. Because the BOPS cannot instantaneously provide enough fuel to the PSOFC, the load transients have a detrimental effect on the performance and life of the fuel cell. To alleviate the degrading effects of load transients on PSOFC stacks, the effectiveness of the energy buffering is investigated.