EFISOEC : Research and analysis for the development of a proprietary SOEC technology for the generation of efficient hydrogen production systems.

The world energy scenario is still based on the use of fossil fuels, both in the production of electricity and in its use in the industrial, domestic and transport sectors, generating around 49 GTn of CO2 emissions per year1 . Along with this scenario, there is another, aggravated by the war in Ukraine, in which dependence on Russian gas has led to an energy crisis in Europe. This is why, in addition to bearing in mind the major objective of complying with the new sustainability and emissions reduction policies set at national and European level1,2 , which will force us to move towards a scenario based on the use of renewable energy sources, it is necessary for this transition to take place in a short period of time in order to resolve this situation, reduce the aforementioned dependence and increase security of supply. Given the intermittent and seasonal nature of renewable energy sources, the transition towards a sustainable scenario is strongly linked to the development of efficient energy storage systems. In this context, and with the aim of achieving complete decarbonisation, the use of electrolysis technology for the generation of green hydrogen plays a very important role, as it will allow the two main current energy infrastructures (electricity grid and gas grid) to be linked, providing solutions for the decarbonisation of intensive sectors such as industry and heavy transport, which are very difficult to decarbonise in a purely electrification scenario. One of the main emerging technologies for the production of green H2 is Solid Oxide Electrolysis technology, also called SOEC.

The overall objective of the project is to investigate, analyse and generate knowledge on a new integrated system for the production of green H2 with high efficiency and durability, based on high temperature electrolysis cells (SOEC) developed during the project. For this purpose, different geometrical configurations of cells and stacks will be analysed and compared. Likewise, specific subsystems will be designed to meet the efficiency and durability objectives, and proofs of concept will be validated in the laboratory with a system of up to 100 kW, considering in its design the challenges of improving technology, industrialisation, scaling and integration with renewable energies and industrial processes. In order to respond to the needs described above, the following specific objectives of the project are proposed:

• Improve the efficiency in the production of green H2 at high temperature by analysing different geometrical configurations of SOEC cells and stacks.
• Increase the efficiency of the stack and the integrated system by investigating its variables.
• To achieve an extension of the useful life of the components, stacks, modules and integrated system.
• To obtain a significant reduction in the economic cost of production of the systems, directly impacting, together with efficiency, on the cost of H2 production.
• Get the necessary knowledge for a potential industrialisation of the production process.
• Generate knowledge on conceptual design (both at cell and stack level, as well as system design and balance of plant), critical studies and scaling challenges to project the system up to MW scale