Solid oxide electrolyser development project

Currently HydrogenTech activity is aiming at SOEC DSC stack/module unit development, that should provide scalable base for MW (Mega Watt) scale solid oxide electrolysis systems. It is believed that participation in the CETP programme call should allow to make step towards achieving that goal.

Hydrogentech as a consortium participant could bring the following:

• Manufacture DSC cells and stacks for testing

• Provide testing capabilities for cells and stacks in fuel cell and electrolysis mode

• Provide technical expertise in solid oxide cell development process from cell through stack up to the system and final application level

• Implement the technologies that would be developed as part of the project for the Solid Oxide Cell market product

Hydrogentech is interested in the consortium participation as a coordinator or a project partner. Potential collaborations with the following types of project partners were identified as beneficial:

1. Industrial organisation that possess direct experience with solid oxide cell manufacture methods such as: firing, tape casting, screen printing and/or similar. Such an entity could provide expertise in optimisation of the manufacture methods, improve their parameters and support DSC technology development process. The participating organisation could potentially benefit from technology transfer for the developed product.

2. Research organisation with material development experience for SOC such as anode, cathode, electrolyte, barrier layer, current collecting layers or similar that could develop new materials for the technology implementation. Developed innovations could potentially be implemented in HydrogenTech DSC product and the organisation could benefit from those. Also it is expected that such a collaboration could result in scientific journal publications and patent applications.

3. System integrator that possibly could integrate developed stack inside the system as a technology proof of concept or provide theoretical guidance about technology requirements for the market entry of DSC stack/module. In such cooperation system integrator could share experience about stack integration inside the system and those could be taken into account at the design phase for the stack/module. Such an organisation could benefit from knowing requirements from the stack/module producers which could be considered as valuable feedback for the system integration services.

4. End-user organisation, which potentially could provide guidance and feedback about end-user requirements. Those should include any type of industrial organisations that would be interested in utilisation of electrolysis product such as: hydrogen, syngas and ideally possess industrial plants able to deliver waste-heat for solid oxide electrolysis integration. For example such an organisation could potentially be:

a. Ammonia production plant in which produced hydrogen could be utilised for ammonia synthesis and waste heat from the facility could be utilised to heat SOC system

b. Fuel refinery as for example co-electrolysis process could be part of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) manufacturing process

c. Nuclear reactors developer/applicant as those could provide large amount of waste-heat that could be utilised for heating SOC system Participating organisation could benefit from knowing SOC technology and future product could be potentially designed to fit defined industrial requirements.

5. Certification entity that would be able to provide certification guidance at the early stages of the product development. Such an organisation could benefit from knowing technical challenges of the SOC product development and its DSC variant. Possibly such a cooperation could result in development of new or adaptation of existing certification procedures.

6. Organisation developing and implementing mass manufacture methods willing to enter or has direct experience with Solid Oxide Cells market. Until now number of SOC manufacture plants projects were initiated however, those generated challenges to overcome. Such an cooperation could provide guidance about stack/system manufacturability issues which could be included at the early stage of stack/module design with aim of preventing potential issues with technology scalability at the later stage. The participating organisation could benefit from knowing technical challenges of the product development and adapt their manufacturing processes to fit those.

Summarising HydrogenTech is seeking possibility for the participation in the programme and the above list of potential benefits that HT company could bring and collaborations where our company see good opportunity do not include all of the possibilities. Due to that our company would be happy to discuss any of the ideas generated that are outside the scope mentioned.