1MW-Class Solid Oxide Electrolyser System Prototype for Low-Cost Green Hydrogen

Abstract

Ceres aims to play a central role in the global transition to clean, affordable energy to help tackle climate change and air pollution. As part of this goal, Ceres is now focused on applying its well-established and mature solid oxide cell technology to electrolysis system applications as a compelling solution that can address the carbon emissions from the so called hard-to-abate sectors in heavy industry (cement, steel, and chemicals) and heavy-duty transport (road haulage, shipping, and aviation). These sectors represent 10GtCO2 or 30% of CO2 emissions from energy and industry(1). This paper describes Ceres proposed development path from a first-of-a-kind prototype system demonstrator towards full technology maturation and commercialization over the next 5 years. The advantages of heat integration with Ceres’ solid oxide electrolyzer (SOEL) system are explored and a roadmap to the first commercial SOEL systems is presented setting out predicted system capital expenditure and hydrogen production costs.

Assessing capacity to deploy direct air capture technology at the country level – an expert and information entropy comparative analysis

“…Research suggests the thermal energy produced as waste heat is between 23%-53% of global primary energy input, with theoretical and economic recovery potential of 6%-12% and 6%-9%, respectively [32]. This wide-availability of waste heat to power low-temperature DAC processes has already been demonstrated by Climeworks in their pilot facility in Hinwil, Switzerland, co-located with a municipal waste incineration facility, and can be extended across lowtemperature DAC deployment scenarios to benefit from zero cost thermal energy [33,34]. In addition, the use of low carbon electrical energy is another attribute for DAC to be deployed commensurate with its climate mitigation intentions.…”

Current Status of Ceres Electrolysis Programme

“…Figure 9 plots IV curves, measured at 550 °C for all cells showing the spread in performance across the 10 cells that make up the stack. Although part-to-part variations is inevitable in any manufacturing process, the results show this is small with a standard error of only 0.7% based on secant area specific resistance (ASRSEC) calculated as: ASRSEC = (VCELL -OCV) / j [1] ;where j is the current density. ;where EMFAVG is the calculated theoretical Nernst voltage for the fuel gas composition where 50% the total amount hydrogen has been generated as calculated below.…”

“…We are currently developing a 1MW class electrolyser system that incorporates up to nine ECMs. (1) The initial testing of the ECM has provided confirmation that the 1MW system design targets of producing 600 kg/day of hydrogen at a system efficiency above 80% LHV are likely to be achieved.…”

“…Ceres has developed a first-of-a-kind 100kW-class solid oxide electrolysis cell module (ECM), shown in Figure 5. The ECM is the key component of Ceres' 1MW-class SOEC System demonstrator and contains multiple Ceres stacks (1). It is supplied with room temperature air, 150 °C steam, DC power to the stacks and AC to auxiliary components.…”

Solid oxide electrolysis cells – current material development and industrial application

“…51,56,60,63 As MSCs are currently being used successfully in the SOFC systems of Ceres Power, SOEC systems are now being developed. 64 However, there is a lack of publications on the long-term operation of MSC-based stacks in both fuel cell and electrolysis mode.…”