(Lyngby / Denmark) – Following a board decision, Denmark's Topsoe A/S is beginning construction of what it says is the "world's largest SOEC electrolyzer production facility" in Herning, Denmark. The capacity is 500 megawatts per year, with an optional expansion to five gigawatts possible. The investments amount to two billion crowns (270 million euros). Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2022. Once fully operational, 170 workers will be employed.
Address the lack of sustainable fuel production capacity
According to Topsoe managing director Roeland Baan, production capacity for green fuels is “always a challenge”. They now want to “take the lead in scaling Power-to-X technology to meet demand and address the fundamental supply weakness.” It is the largest single investment in the company's history to date. “We have already pre-sold 500 megawatts and are in discussions with other potential buyers,” said Sundus Cordelia Ramli, CCO of Topsoe’s Power-to-X division.
There are hardly any industrial applications for high-temperature solid electrolyte electrolysis (SOEC; Solid Oxide Electrolysis). High temperatures of 600 to 1.000 degrees Celsius are required. Adding thermal energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen can reduce electricity requirements. The electrodes are separated by a ceramic material in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC).
Class schedule
Rendering of the new SOEC factory. © Topsoe
