Current Status of Ceres Electrolysis Programme
Per Hjalmarsson, Jonathan Harman, Chandra Macauley, Ian Methley, Joshua Ryley, Amin Zerfa, Caroline Hargrove, Mark Selby
Abstract
This paper reports on experimental testing and verification of Ceres solid oxide technology in electrolysis mode at all levels from small single cells to a 100-kW module. This programme has demonstrated that the electrochemical performance of Ceres core cell technology is broadly the same in fuel cell and electrolysis modes suggesting no fundamental difference when reversing the direction of current. Additionally, lifetime predictors such as degradation rate and resilience to thermal cycles and emergency stops, measured at stack level, show an equally high level of real-world robustness in electrolysis mode as in fuel cell mode. Finally, results from testing our first-of-a-kind 100kW electrolysis module show reliable operation, high electrical efficiency of >87% (LHV) or 38kWh/kgH 2 and stacks performing at the same level as measured on test stands.