Ceres Power, a developer of solid oxide electrolyzer (SOEC) technology, has secured a new contract with Shell to collaborate on the design of a large-scale SOEC module for green hydrogen production.
This project builds upon their existing partnership, which began in 2022 with the deployment of a 1MW SOEC system at Shell’s R&D facility in Bangalore, India.
The primary focus of this new phase is the development of a pressurized SOEC module designed for scalability to hundreds of megawatts. This larger-scale system is intended to integrate with industrial plants for the production of sustainable fuels like ammonia and green steel.
A key advantage of SOEC technology lies in its efficiency. When combined with waste heat from industrial processes, SOEC systems can reportedly achieve approximately 35% more hydrogen production per unit of electrical energy compared to conventional methods. The project aims to further enhance efficiency through a pressurized system design, targeting a module-level efficiency of less than 36kWh/kg of hydrogen. This aligns with the EU’s SOE 2030 technology targets, a key benchmark for the industry.
Ceres highlights the value of collaboration with Shell in acquiring valuable data and insights. This information will be used to refine their SOEC technology and ensure it remains commercially competitive and scalable. According to Phil Caldwell, CEO of Ceres, their commitment to innovation keeps their offerings at the forefront of the industry in terms of simplicity, efficiency, and performance.
