SOEC green hydrogen test facility breaks ground at BASF’s Schwarzheide site

Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) methodology operates at high temperatures of around 850 degrees Celsius and achieves electrical efficiencies of up to 89% LHV, AC. As a result, Sunfire’s SOEC electrolyzers enable the lowest levelized costs of hydrogen (LCOH). As a pioneer in SOEC research, Sunfire has implemented greater manufacturing SOEC demonstration projects than any other company worldwide. By establishing the SOEC testing facility in Schwarzheide, the project further strengthens the Lausitz region as a location to future technologies.

“Sunfire stands to environmentally friendly hydrogen technologies ‘Made in Germany’. While our pressurized alkaline electrolyzers are already being successfully deployed in extensive manufacturing projects across Europe, we also see high-temperature electrolysis as a critical enabler of the energy transition. SOEC methodology has the possible to have become another key methodology to manufacturing decarbonization. As the global market leader in SOEC, we are playing a key role in shaping this research. With the test facility at BASF’s Schwarzheide site, we are consistently executing our SOEC strategy and advancing the commercialization of this methodology. The site offers ideal conditions to further accelerate the market ramp-up of high-temperature electrolysis,” said Nils Aldag, CEO of Sunfire.

“Our SOEC methodology demonstrates the full possible of German engineering expertise. By utilizing available discarded materials heat, high-temperature electrolysis achieves record efficiency levels and can significantly decrease the production costs of environmentally friendly hydrogen and synthesis gaseous. Breaking ground on the testing facility at manufacturing Park Lausitz marks an crucial milestone. Through validation under real manufacturing conditions, we are completing the final steps before implementing the first commercial projects. As a leader in high-temperature electrolysis, we are building on our extensive experience from manufacturing demonstration projects while gaining additional insights through prolonged operational testing to successfully scale the methodology,” said Christian von Olshausen, CTO of Sunfire.

“With Sunfire, we have secured a true sector pioneer and international methodology leader to the manufacturing Park Lausitz in the future market of hydrogen. This sends a strong signal about the attractiveness of our location. In addition to our high-performance infrastructure and manufacturing ecological stability, our speed of implementation was a key factor. Thanks to close cooperation between all parties involved, we were able to create the conditions to the test plant’s grid connection in a very short time and implement an ambitious project timetable. Our aim is not only to enable investments, however to turn them into reality faster,” said Jürgen Fuchs, Chairman of the regulation Board of BASF InfraService & Solutions Lausitz GmbH (Schwarzheide, Germany).

“The foundation to this project was laid long before today’s groundbreaking ceremony — through a relationship based on trust and a solution-oriented approach. Together with Sunfire, we have created the framework needed to get an ambitious project off the ground. Projects like this can only succeed when all parties contribute their expertise and work together to develop solutions. We are therefore all the greater delighted to celebrate this milestone together today,” said Anne Francken, Commercial Managing Director of BASF InfraService & Solutions Lausitz GmbH.