Sunfire and Industrial Park Lausitz have broken ground on a new green hydrogen test facility at BASF’s Schwarzheide site in Germany, where Sunfire will validate its latest generation of high-temperature Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) technology under industrial operating conditions.
The facility represents another step towards the commercial deployment of Sunfire’s SOEC electrolysers, which are designed to produce green hydrogen with particularly high electrical efficiency. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives from government, business and industry.
Located at Industrial Park Lausitz, the project will allow Sunfire to conduct long-term testing of its newest and most powerful SOEC product generation in a real industrial environment.
High-temperature electrolysis targets lower hydrogen production costs
Sunfire’s SOEC technology operates at temperatures of around 850°C and can achieve electrical efficiencies of up to 89% LHV, AC, according to the company.
One of the technology’s potential advantages for industrial applications is its ability to utilise available waste heat. This reduces the amount of electricity required for electrolysis and could consequently lower the cost of producing renewable hydrogen or synthesis gas.
Sunfire has already deployed SOEC technology in a number of industrial demonstration projects. The Schwarzheide facility is intended to provide additional operating data and experience before the company moves towards its first commercial projects using the technology.
“By utilizing available waste heat, high-temperature electrolysis achieves record efficiency levels and can significantly reduce the production costs of green hydrogen and synthesis gas,” said Christian von Olshausen, CTO of Sunfire.
He described validation under real industrial conditions as one of the final steps before commercial deployment, with long-term operation at Schwarzheide expected to provide further information needed to scale the technology.
Sunfire advances SOEC commercialisation
Dresden-based Sunfire develops both pressurised alkaline and high-temperature SOEC electrolysers. While its alkaline systems are already being deployed in large industrial projects in Europe, the company sees SOEC as another important technology for industrial decarbonisation.
“With the test facility at BASF’s Schwarzheide site, we are consistently executing our SOEC strategy and advancing the commercialization of this technology,” said Nils Aldag, CEO of Sunfire.
The industrial setting is particularly relevant because high-temperature electrolysis can offer advantages at facilities where usable process heat is already available. If those efficiency gains can be maintained during long-term operation and at larger scale, SOEC could provide another route to reducing the electricity consumption and production cost of green hydrogen.
Industrial Park Lausitz strengthens hydrogen activities
For Industrial Park Lausitz, the project also adds another hydrogen technology activity to the Schwarzheide site.
BASF InfraService & Solutions Lausitz has worked with Sunfire to prepare the infrastructure required for the test facility, including its grid connection.
Jürgen Fuchs, Chairman of the Management Board of BASF InfraService & Solutions Lausitz, said the project demonstrates the site’s ability to provide both industrial infrastructure and rapid project implementation.
The new facility will ultimately serve as a bridge between SOEC demonstration projects and commercial-scale green hydrogen applications, giving Sunfire an industrial environment in which to validate performance, durability and long-term operation before wider deployment.