Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OUTFOX (Optimized Up-scaled Technology for next-generation solid OXide electrolysis)
Período documentado: 2023-02-01 hasta 2024-07-31
Solutions for large-scale and sustainable hydrogen production are urgently required, as hydrogen has the potential to decarbonize key industrial sectors and energy production. Solid oxide electrolysis (SOEL), unlike other green hydrogen generation methods, has unrivaled conversion efficiency. However, cutting-edge SOEL systems are incompatible with low-cost manufacturing techniques capable of producing electrochemical cells on a large scale. Furthermore, they are unable to produce hydrogen at a sufficient rate and cost. In this respect, the EU-funded OUTFOX project aims to overcome scale as a barrier to SOEL technology deployment while demonstrating its potential to become the preferred alternative for green hydrogen production. The industrially driven OUTFOX partnership aims to improve SOEL maturity and help the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking meet its goals by integrating expertise in cell, stack, and module research, manufacture, and whole system evaluation. With cells that are 25% thinner than the existing state-of-the-art, OUTFOX will be able to achieve current densities of at least 0.85 A/cm2, boosting sustainability by reducing overall material requirements. The partners will use single repeating units, short stacks of 15 cells, and 80 kW prototype systems to test high current density operation at reference scale (144 cm2), industrial scale (>300 cm2), and next-generation cells (900 cm2). This will total more than 10,000 hours of SOEL operation. Finally, two 80 kW testing sessions with two separate stack configurations will be conducted over a total of 4000 hours of operation to thoroughly validate the OUTFOX technology. OUTFOX will prepare SOEL for industrial scale systems of 100 MW or more with an LCOH as low as €2.7/kg hydrogen by combining optimal cell and system designs with testing findings up to 80 kW scales.
Reference scale cells with 400 and 300 micron half cell thicknesses were manufactured to be implemented for short stack and 80 kW stack manufacturing. Using the manufactured reference cells, reference scale stacks for electrochemical testing have been manufactured. Upon successful implementation of aforementioned activities, the first milestone of the project has been reached. The reference scale short stacks (stacks #1 and #2) have been tested electrochemically. The successful completion of testing activity of the reference scale short stacks has resulted in the completion of the second milestone of the project. In addition, the following activities are in progress: i) Manufacturing and performance evaluation of industrial scaled-up cells (300 cm2) and next-generation cells (900 cm2) with reduced thicknesses, ii) Conceptual design of an up-scaled SOE module aiming at even flow distribution using a 3D model. The initial simulation results are physically and numerically reasonable, iii) Design of modified 80 kW module with simplified and streamlined assembly, iv) Design phase of a plant model for techno-economic and scale-up analysis has been finalized, v) preparation for 80 kW module testing.
One of the major impacts on OUTFOX will be the manufacturing and testing of solid oxide electrolysis cells, which are significantly larger than any cell currently on the market. In addition, the potential for high throughput manufacturing aspect will be investigated, which is an important requirement for massive hydrogen production. The performance and durability tests followed by the post-test degradation analyses will be able to increase the power and improve the cell/stack lifetimes. These will not only move the SOEL technology further towards commercialization, but will also lead to more effective use of energy source and decrease the dependency on fossil fuels.
The combination of rapidly growing SOEL/SOFC market, already existing EU supply chains, a supportive regulatory environment and leading innovations created the potential for European industry to profit from maintaining the leadership in the SOEL/SOFC market. This will in turn contribute to the economic growth and creation of jobs. Scaling up solid oxide electrolysis technology (one of the main aims of OUTFOX) will also contribute to strengthening the position of SOEL/SOFC industries within Europe. SOEL systems will lead to opening up applications for large-scale industrial hydrogen production and decreasing the dependency on fossil fuels.
The total material requirements for critical raw materials have been calculated and the values show that SOEL will not disrupt supply chains of critical materials. Furthermore, the thinner cells to be developed and scaled-up in OUTFOX will have a direct contribution to the sustainability of supply chains by reducing the needed material for the cell manufacturing.
The combination of rapidly growing SOEL/SOFC market, already existing EU supply chains, a supportive regulatory environment and leading innovations created the potential for European industry to profit from maintaining the leadership in the SOEL/SOFC market. This will in turn contribute to the economic growth and creation of jobs. Scaling up solid oxide electrolysis technology (one of the main aims of OUTFOX) will also contribute to strengthening the position of SOEL/SOFC industries within Europe. SOEL systems will lead to opening up applications for large-scale industrial hydrogen production and decreasing the dependency on fossil fuels.
The total material requirements for critical raw materials have been calculated and the values show that SOEL will not disrupt supply chains of critical materials. Furthermore, the thinner cells to be developed and scaled-up in OUTFOX will have a direct contribution to the sustainability of supply chains by reducing the needed material for the cell manufacturing.