(Invited) Topsoe’s Vision on the Commercialization of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells: Challenges and Accomplishments in Upscaling to the MW Scale

Topsoe is strongly committed to drive the decarbonization of the so-called hard-to-abate sectors, such as iron and steel manufacturing and long-haul transportation, by implementing the industrial scale production of sustainable fuels and chemicals via solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). To enable the upscaling of the SOEC technology at the pace required by the increasing green hydrogen demand and the company’s target of full climate neutrality by 2040, Topsoe is building a facility able to produce electrolysis stacks and modules with an annual capacity of 500 MW, equaling the production of 125,000 tonnes of hydrogen p.a. The construction of the production facility, covering an area of over 23,000 m 2 , was initiated at the end of 2022 in Herning, Denmark, and is progressing at an accelerated pace, aiming at full operation in 2025. The 2 nd generation Topsoe Stack Platform (TSP-2) produced in the Herning facility consists of SOEC stacks designed for H 2 production from the electrolysis of steam at pressurized conditions (>3 bar), while maintaining the ability to operate at ambient pressure to produce CO by CO 2 electrolysis. The TSP-2 stack has a capacity of >15 Nm 3 H 2 /h, to be further combined in a 12 stacks-core module totaling over 180 Nm 3 H 2 /h. Exciting and solid results have been recently released by Topsoe on the SOEC core’s first demonstration test at industrially relevant conditions [1] . The demo unit, consisting of 12 stacks (1200 cells) operating at a constant pressure of 3.5 bar and a combined stack power of 350 kW, showed remarkable stability over 2250 hours of operation ( Figure 1 ). These impressive durability results were obtained at a core efficiency of approximately 93% (LHV of hydrogen), with an electricity consumption of the core of around 36 kWh/kg H 2 and a ramp-up time to reach 100% of the load (approximately 230 A throughout each stack in the core) of just three minutes. While providing an overview of the continuing demonstration tests ongoing at a stack and core level, this presentation will report the developments of the construction of the manufacturing facility in Herning, highlighting the major challenges and key factors playing a role in the large-scale commercialization of SOECs. References: [1] www.topsoe.com/blog/breakthrough-in-green-hydrogen-topsoes-soec-demo-reveals-strong-results. Last accessed on 18-04-2024. Figure 1: Average cell voltage for all the 1200 cells in the 12 stacks of the Topsoe SOEC core’s demo u