Elcogen, an Estonian manufacturer of solid oxide fuel cells and electrolyzer cells, is partnering with Austrian technology company AVL to develop solid oxide electrolyzer cell stack (SOEC) modules for megawatt- scale hydrogen production plants. The project brings together the research and development efforts of both partners in their Hy2Tech programs in Europe – and comes amidst other significant advancements by both companies in their respective hydrogen and fuel cell operations.
The partners will focus on one of the biggest challenges in electrolyzation– to scale from small cell footprints to multi-megawatt modules. The solution will incorporate multiple Elcogen single stacks in a module which will enable industrial scaling. The collaboration combines Elcogen’s technology in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and stacks (SOEC) with AVL’s expertise in SOFC/SOEC system and stack module development.
SOEC is a potentially game-changing electrolyzer technology that can enable intrinsically higher efficiencies compared to Alkaline, PEM or AEM electrolyzers. When SOEC is coupled to external heat sources from industrial processes, efficiencies in the range of 90% and beyond can be achieved. This advantage makes SOEC an attractive choice in industrial hydrogen production also in e-fuel production, especially where the exhaust heat of the synthesis process can be used.
Martin Skov Skjøth-Rasmussen, CTO, Elcogen, said: “Through this collaboration and combination of complementary specialised expertise under the IPCEI Hy2Tech program, we hope to accelerate the development of modular solutions for the industrial scale deployment of solid oxide technology.”
Jürgen Rechberger, Vice President, AVL, added: “We are happy to join forces under the umbrella of IPCEI Hy2Tech with Elcogen. Together we will address the key challenge of industrialising SOEC –the scale-up to industrial relevant module sizes. We look forward to developing this stack module solution with Elcogen and demonstrating it in our IPCEI Hy2Tech program.”
Elcogen expands manufacturing facilities & rakes in €140m investments
On June 18th, the cornerstone for Elcogen’s new factory was laid in the Loovälja Industrial Park near Tallinn where the company is headquartered. The 14,000 square meter factory will significantly increase its current production capacity of solid oxide cells, rising from 10 megawatts to 360 megawatts. Construction began in January, with production expected to start in mid-2025.
Enn Õunpuu, founder and CEO of Elcogen, stated at the cornerstone ceremony that this is a crucial milestone on the path to innovative energy solutions: “The new factory will be equipped with the latest available technology, reducing its environmental impact and minimising air pollution. Production will be significantly more automated, faster, and of higher quality than before. The new factory is a priority development for us, as our current production capacity is at its maximum, and with our strategic investors Baker Hughes and HD Hyundai, we have global customers who are in need of our technology.”
Combined with equity investment from Hydrogen One Capital Growth plc, HD Hyundai and Baker Hughes and others, as well as project grants from the European Commission, including an IPCEI project, totaling more than €24m, and a proposed debt of €15m, Elcogen has now raised more than €140m for the continuous development and scaling of its solid oxide technology. Baker Hughes is an energy technology company that has a diverse portfolio of equipment and service capabilities that span the energy and industrial value chain. With more than 55,000 employees, the company is increasingly involved in the energy transition and is committed to helping industry meet net-zero emissions targets. Historically an oilfield service company, today It serves the entire hydrogen value chain from production to transportation and utilization.
AVL advancements
AVL, headquartered in Graz, Austria, is one of the world’s leading mobility technology companies for development, simulation and testing in the automotive industry, and in other sectors such as rail, marine, and energy with 12,200 employees at more than 90 locations and 45 technology and engineering centers worldwide.
In May, AVL upgraded the facilities at its Basildon Engineering Centre in the UK to support hydrogen and battery e-mobility projects. A hydrogen cube provides a safe space for the build, maintenance and conversion of hydrogen vehicles. Along with an electrification lab, the investment allows for further growth in its capabilities for battery, hydrogen and hydrogen PEM fuel cells.
The H2 Cube is a a compliant containment vehicle workshop with space for three vehicles, provides a safe space for hydrogen internal combustion engine and fuel cell work while accommodating build, maintenance, and conversions to hydrogen vehicles. The cube is also equipped to undertake fuel cell and tank installation, integration of battery and H2 commissioning, including low-pressure hydrogen fills.
“The upgrade of our facilities allows us to further grow our in-house capabilities for battery, hydrogen and hydrogen PEM fuel cells whilst expanding our technological footprint,” explains Dr. Bernadette Longridge, Engineering Centre Manager. “We are focused on supporting our customers in a front-loading approach, capturing issues earlier, and offering efficient project delivery. Our overall aim with the refurbishment of the facilities is to enable us to fully support our customers and the transition to e-mobility.”
AVL teams up with Red Bull Advanced Technologies to develop high-power-density fuel cell technology for motorsport & aviation
In another recent development, AVL has partnered with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the high-performance arm of Red Bull Racing Group, to develop ultra-high-power density fuel cell technology. The lightweight solutions are expected to be two-thirds lighter than conventional fuel cell systems, paving the way for net-zero carbon emissions across high-performance automotive, motorsport and aviation industries.
The collaboration combines AVL’s portfolio of PEM fuel cell technology and Red Bull’s technologies and novel methodologies in lightweight design, construction and aerodynamics. This project is expected to deliver a fuel cell system for high performance application that exceeds those currently available globally. Joint investigations indicate that upon successful completion, dramatic improvements in gravimetric power density can be achieved with values towards 6kW/kg on stack level and 2kW/kg on fuel cell system level with the potential to result in the world’s highest gravimetric power density PEM fuel cell system.
“We are very proud to be working closely with Red Bull,” noted Rechberger of AVL. “This partnership will combine the knowledge and experience of our experts, allowing us to improve the gravimetric power density of our fuel cell technology by a factor of three and hence meet the requirements of high-performance applications like aviation and racing.”
For more info, see www.elcogen.com, www.avl.com, www.redbulladvancedtechnologies.com.
