Power generation tests using a single-cell SOFC fueled by coal-derived syngas were conducted under a constant voltage of -0.8 V versus air (reference). The syngas was produced in the steam gasification of pulverized coal in a laboratory-scale fluidized-bed gasifier and was supplied to SOFC anode with different gas cleaning conditions: with/without filtrations and water washing. It was possible to generate the electrical current by the coal-derived syngas for several hours and we found that the degradation behavior of SOFC anode was notably affected by gas cleaning conditions. A SEM-EDX analysis confirmed that the micro-scale change in morphology of SOFC anode occurred due to the sintering of Ni particles over the anode layer, suggesting that eutectic melting of Ni might be enhanced by some impurities contained in the coal derived syngas.