SK ecoplant works with Bloom Energy to produce green hydrogen based on SOEC technology.
As part of a strategy to grow beyond its conventional construction business into eco-friendly markets, SK ecoplant, a builder affiliated with South Korea’s conglomerate SK Group, has embarked on the production of green hydrogen based on solid oxide electrolyzer cell technology at a joint venture plant with Bloom Energy, an American public company.
A solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) runs in regenerative mode to achieve the electrolysis of water by using a solid oxide, or ceramic, electrolyte to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen.
Electrolysis is the most promising method of hydrogen production from water. SOEC is spotlighted as an innovative technology due to its excellent hydrogen production efficiency.
SK ecoplant and Bloom Energy built a 130-kilowatt SOEC facility in Gumi, some 202 kilometers (126 miles) southeast of Seoul, after their joint venture demonstrated hydrogen production through electrolysis technology.
The South Korean company would upgrade SOEC technology and strengthen cooperation with Bloom Energy to secure the world’s most efficient green hydrogen production technology.
Lee Wang-jae, SK ecoplant’s eco-energy business head said in a statement:
We will successfully complete this demonstration to secure the world’s best performance water electrolysis technology and actively cooperate with global renewable energy companies to establish a green hydrogen ecosystem.
The American company produces power generators and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), which are an electrochemical conversion device that produces electricity directly from oxidizing a fuel.
Due to their extremely high electrical efficiencies and low operating costs, SOFCs are emerging as a fast-growing fuel cell segment from use as auxiliary power units in vehicles to stationary power generation. Thanks for staying up to date with Hydrogen Central.
SOEC’s operating temperatures are similar to those conditions for SOFC, which uses common gas such as hydrogen as the main source of fuel and is considered to be the most stable and power-efficient among its fuel cell brothers.
Because SOFC has a high power output compared to its size, the fuel cell system is ideal for powering mega-sized heavy equipment such as oil tankers and giant tunnel boring machines.
SK ecoplant works with Bloom Energy to produce green hydrogen based on SOEC technology, Seoul, February 17, 2022