Reports related to this article:
Project(s): View 2 related projects in PECWeb
Plant(s): View 1 related plant in PECWeb
Released September 15, 2022 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Danish chemical technology company Topsoe has made a final investment decision (FID) to construct the world's largest solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) electrolyzer manufacturing plant in Herning, Denmark.
The 2 billion Danish Kroner (US$284 million) project is the largest investment in the company's 80-year history as it sets out to become a leading player in the provision of hydrogen-production technology in the fast-growing Power-to-X market. The initial plant will have a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) per year with an option to expand to 5 gigawatts (GW). SOEC technology is one of the three main technologies being used for the production of green hydrogen, alongside polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis (PEM) and alkaline electrolysis. SOEC cells follow the same construction style of a solid-oxide fuel cell, consisting of a fuel electrode (cathode), an oxygen electrode (anode) and a solid-oxide electrolyte. They operate at high temperatures, typically 600°C to 1000°C, to allow electrolysis of water. This reduces the need of electrical energy required for electrolysis, instead relying on heat energy to split water and carbon dioxide. SOECs can be used to produce hydrogen and syngas fuel.
"The case for using electrolysis to produce green fuels is now well established, but manufacturing capacity has always been the challenge," explained Topsoe Chief Executive Officer Roeland Baan. "We are facing this challenge head on. We are dedicated to taking the lead on scaling power-to-x technology to help drive the energy transition, and we are investing over DKK 2 billion to meet this demand and address this fundamental supply weakness. This is the single biggest investment in the company's history, clearly highlighting our commitment to driving the energy transition, and we hope this huge facility will act as a catalyst for new investment in the future."
The project received funding of more than US$10.6 million earlier this year from the Danish Board of Business Development. Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Simon Kollerup, said: "Power-to-X and hydrogen can become a new business adventure for Danish companies, and it is fantastic to see so many ideas about future green fuels coming from Danish companies. It speaks directly to the Danish strategy on Power-to-X to industrialize and upscale production making it easier and more competitive to produce green hydrogen."
In May, Topsoe was one of 20 major European companies to sign a Joint Declaration with the European Commission to commit to a tenfold increase of European electrolyzer manufacturing capacity by 2025. This will enable the annual European Union (EU) production of 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen by 2030, which was set as a target in the REPowerEU plan in March. REPowerEU aims to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with natural gas. The declaration also supports the acceleration for backing and rolling out clean hydrogen projects to the tune of 17.5 gigawatts (GW) per year by 2025. The commission has pledged to put in place a "supportive regulatory framework, facilitate access to finance and promote efficient supply chains." Industrial Info is tracking more than 550 European projects across all aspects of hydrogen production, worth US$47 billion. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for related reports. For additional information, see May 17, 2022, article - European Commission Promises Tenfold Boost in Clean Hydrogen and March 16, 2022, article-Europe Plans to Cut Russia From Energy Mix.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
The 2 billion Danish Kroner (US$284 million) project is the largest investment in the company's 80-year history as it sets out to become a leading player in the provision of hydrogen-production technology in the fast-growing Power-to-X market. The initial plant will have a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) per year with an option to expand to 5 gigawatts (GW). SOEC technology is one of the three main technologies being used for the production of green hydrogen, alongside polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis (PEM) and alkaline electrolysis. SOEC cells follow the same construction style of a solid-oxide fuel cell, consisting of a fuel electrode (cathode), an oxygen electrode (anode) and a solid-oxide electrolyte. They operate at high temperatures, typically 600°C to 1000°C, to allow electrolysis of water. This reduces the need of electrical energy required for electrolysis, instead relying on heat energy to split water and carbon dioxide. SOECs can be used to produce hydrogen and syngas fuel.
"The case for using electrolysis to produce green fuels is now well established, but manufacturing capacity has always been the challenge," explained Topsoe Chief Executive Officer Roeland Baan. "We are facing this challenge head on. We are dedicated to taking the lead on scaling power-to-x technology to help drive the energy transition, and we are investing over DKK 2 billion to meet this demand and address this fundamental supply weakness. This is the single biggest investment in the company's history, clearly highlighting our commitment to driving the energy transition, and we hope this huge facility will act as a catalyst for new investment in the future."
The project received funding of more than US$10.6 million earlier this year from the Danish Board of Business Development. Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Simon Kollerup, said: "Power-to-X and hydrogen can become a new business adventure for Danish companies, and it is fantastic to see so many ideas about future green fuels coming from Danish companies. It speaks directly to the Danish strategy on Power-to-X to industrialize and upscale production making it easier and more competitive to produce green hydrogen."
In May, Topsoe was one of 20 major European companies to sign a Joint Declaration with the European Commission to commit to a tenfold increase of European electrolyzer manufacturing capacity by 2025. This will enable the annual European Union (EU) production of 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen by 2030, which was set as a target in the REPowerEU plan in March. REPowerEU aims to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with natural gas. The declaration also supports the acceleration for backing and rolling out clean hydrogen projects to the tune of 17.5 gigawatts (GW) per year by 2025. The commission has pledged to put in place a "supportive regulatory framework, facilitate access to finance and promote efficient supply chains." Industrial Info is tracking more than 550 European projects across all aspects of hydrogen production, worth US$47 billion. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for related reports. For additional information, see May 17, 2022, article - European Commission Promises Tenfold Boost in Clean Hydrogen and March 16, 2022, article-Europe Plans to Cut Russia From Energy Mix.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
