(Invited) A Sustainable Future Fueled By Science: Recent Advances in Power-to-X Activities at Topsoe

Abstract

Topsoe aims at being recognized as the global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024, by developing a wide range of energy-efficient solutions to produce sustainable transportation fuels, such as ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen. With over 80 years of expertise in heterogeneous catalysis and its application to industrial chemical processes, Topsoe is now striving to develop strong Power-to-X solutions to fuel the transition towards a sustainable chemical industry and energy infrastructure. One of the key-technology that Topsoe has envisioned for such transition is the solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology, well-recognized as the most energy-efficient amongst the electrolysis solutions. Here, Topsoe’s expertise in heterogeneous catalysis also plays a role in ensuring an effective downstream catalytic conversion of SOEC products (H2, CO, or syngas) into green fuels and chemicals. To tackle climate change at the pace that our times impose, Topsoe is committing to a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. To reach such an ambitious goal, a large industrial scale application of the SOEC technology is necessary. Accordingly, Topsoe has announced the construction of a SOEC manufacturing facility in Denmark to produce electrolysis stacks and modules with a capacity of 500 MW per year, planned to be operational in 20251.In this presentation, Topsoe will provide an overview of its initiatives, lines of work and results in the field of SOECs, spanning from the thorough investigation of materials properties and electrode microstructure to the design and realization of a MW-sized electrolyzer plant. An extensive R&D effort is also directed towards increasing the lifetime of Topsoe’s fuel electrode-supported Ni/YSZ based cells, aiming at the development of robust and durable electrodes. The presentation will give examples of the analysis of electrode nano- and micro-structures by advanced characterization techniques, while illustrating the valuable role of impedance spectroscopy for the electrochemical characterization of the state-of-the-art cell performance. Finally, the presentation will also showcase results of stack testing applying Topsoe's stack technology for H2 production, as well as an update and outlook of Topsoe's efforts in upscaling its SOEC capacity. P. Blennow, T. Heiredal-Clausen, J. Rass-Hansen, J. B. Hansen; M. Hultqvist, and P.-G. Moses, in Proceedings - 14th Europrean Solid Oxide Fuel and SOE Cell Forum, p. A0304 (2022)