Topsoe reaches new milestone in SOEC electrolysis technology development

Danish technology company Topsoe has run a 2,000-hour SOEC (solid oxide electrolyzer cell) electrolyzer demonstration in industrial conditions of 12 SOEC stacks, which showed that all 1,200 cells, which were included in the test, operated at high levels of stability while maintaining stable temperature levels.

The test was held at the company’s demonstration site in Frederikssund, Denmark, and according to Topsoe, it was meant to demonstrate the technology’s capabilities in a hydrogen plant and validate the SOEC electrolyzers under industrial-standard intensity.

Topsoe referred to the demonstration as an important milestone in developing and scaling SOEC electrolysis technology, as well as the company’s wider mission to enable the energy transition by bringing efficient, scalable and innovative decarbonization technology to market.

The company noted that the results further honor the trust put in Topsoe’s SOEC cells by the market and the EU Innovation Fund, which awarded a €94 million grant in December 2023 for Topsoe’s SOEC factory in Herning, Denmark.

Kim Hedegaard, CEO of Power-to-X at Topsoe, commented: “Net zero 2050 will only succeed if we have the courage to deploy new pioneering technologies. The great test results demonstrate the capabilities of our SOEC technology. It is a much more efficient solution to meet the need for a rapid decarbonization of our planet compared to conventional electrolysis technologies and ready to make a positive impact in the Power-to-X industry.”

As for Topsoe’s other technologies, it is worth mentioning that at the beginning of 2024, Topsoe’s ammonia technology was picked for a new hydrogen project in South Korea. Specifically, Topsoe signed an engineering agreement with the South Korean industrial supplier of hydrogen Approtium to convert low-carbon ammonia into hydrogen using its H2RETAKE technology.

To note, according to Topsoe, H2RETAKE produces high-quality hydrogen suitable for various industrial applications., and its unique feature is its ability to use off-gases as fuel for the endothermic reaction, enhancing its overall efficiency.