British fuel cell manufacturer Ceres plans to develop a 1-MW electrolysis plant in Stuttgart with Linde Engineering and Bosch starting in 2024. The special feature: It will use high-temperature or SOEC technology.
According to Ceres, the test phase of the 1-MW system will begin in 2024 at the Bosch site in Stuttgart and last two years. Together, they want to demonstrate that high-temperature or SOEC (solid oxide electrolysis) electrolysis has major advantages over other electrolysis technologies such as PEM or AEM, especially for large-scale applications in heavy industry.
Ceres says it has committed £100 million to the development of SOEC technology. The first 100-kW electrolyzer module is currently in the testing phase, it said. Initial results suggested that the technology could deliver green hydrogen at <40 kWh/kg, which would be about 25% more efficient than established low-temperature technologies.
SOEC technology in practice
The SOEC program builds on Bosch's experience with Ceres' solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology. SOEC technology uses the same materials, manufacturing processes, equipment and stack designs. Ceres sees the demonstration as a system-level validation of SOEC, which would be the basis for potential commercialization.
Phil Caldwell, Chief Executive Officer of Ceres, comments:
"By combining Ceres' unique technology, Bosch's strength in scaled manufacturing, and Linde Engineering's deep expertise in hydrogen production, processing, distribution and storage, we will build a partnership that can make our technology even more competitive and prepare it for mass market adoption at scale."
