Current Status of Ceres Electrolysis Programme

Abstract

This report provides an update on Ceres SOEC programme. Since its start Ceres’ state of art technology has been evaluated in electrolysis mode, both experimentally and using modeling at cell, stack, and system level, in parallel to developing its first 1 MW scale demonstrator system.Electrochemical performance, measured at cell level, shows similar performance in EC and FC mode within nominal operating conditions. Durability of stack repeat units has been measured experimentally at a range of different conditions. The degradation rate during the initial ~5000 hrs was found to range from 15-25 mΩcm2/khrs with a decaying trend over time. Degradation behaviour has been correlated with boundary conditions to provide a tool for optimizing and predicting life.A stack Multiphysics model has been developed that considers the electrochemical reactions as well as transfer of heat, fluids, and charge. The model was validated against stack test data with very good correlation and is being used for predictive analysis of stack performance under relevant conditions. The results show that Ceres stack will work equally effective in electrolysis mode as it does in fuel cell mode.Finally, performance of SOEL systems incorporating Ceres electrolyser stacks have been evaluated by system modelling at different boundary conditions. This allows us to assess system efficiency and levelized cost of hydrogen for different scenarios and sets of assumptions.