The Dresden-based electrolyzer producer Sunfire is to receive €169 million to set up industrial series production. The grant is part of the EU's IPCEI initiative. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Saxony's Economics Minister Martin Dulig handed over the funding notification in Dresden on Wednesday (August 30).
Sunfire intends to use the funding to set up industrial series production of its electrolysis technologies. The company is investing a total of around €400 million in this context, he said.
"Thanks to the grant, we can proceed more quickly and significantly more extensively than we would be able to with our own funds," explained Sunfire CEO Nils Aldag on the occasion of the handover.
"IPCEI is our catalyst on the way to gigawatt production - and that's why today is a great day for us."
Sunfire aims to become industry leader
By definition, IPCEI projects are projects of major European interest. The government funding is intended to contribute to the growth and competitiveness of the European economy. 70% of the funding is provided by the federal government, with 30% coming from the respective states. Sunfire emphasized the growth potential for Germany as a business location: by becoming a "leading company in the sector" in Dresden, the company would create sustainable value added and jobs.
In the summer of 2022, the BMWK granted an early start to the measures. The Dresden-based company then made initial investments, primarily in the area of pressure alkali technology, which is already being installed today at customers such as RWE and Uniper. Sunfire had already started series production of this technology in March 2023.
The next step would now be the industrial production of high-temperature electrolysers (SOEC). These are said to have particularly high efficiencies, but are currently still mainly used in special applications.