This milestone marks an important step, demonstrating the first MW-scale SOEC system in India and the maturity of Ceres’s solid oxide electrolyser technology, supported by Shell’s expertise in installation, integration, and safety assurance.
Shell and Ceres have been collaborating since 2022, leading to the deployment of the demonstrator, which has the potential to produce up to 600 kg of hydrogen per day at full capacity, with an electrolyser module efficiency of 37 kWh/kg.
The metal-supported design from Ceres allows the system to operate at lower temperatures than current state-of-the-art SOEC technology. The operational phase of the demonstrator is expected to demonstrate increased robustness and reduced operating costs.
The start of hydrogen production by this demonstrator system marks the beginning of the operational phase of the project, during which data and insights will be gathered to support the development of a commercially competitive and scalable solution for industrial applications.
Phil Caldwell, CEO of Ceres, commented: “This achievement illustrates how Ceres’s high-efficiency technology can scale to meet the needs of industry and deliver a route to economically viable hydrogen for green steel, ammonia, and synthetic fuels. India has ambitious plans, targeting development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least five million metric tons per year by 2030 and technological advancements, just like the one we have announced today, are aiming to contribute to this goal by helping to build and galvanise India’s clean energy ecosystem.”
Theo Bodewes, General Manager of Hydrogen at Shell Projects & Technology, said: “Hydrogen has a huge role to play in a low-carbon energy system as a feedstock for low-carbon gases and low carbon fuels. We are working with Ceres to help advance technologies that can deliver hydrogen efficiently and reliably. This latest milestone is the next stage in helping us to learn and evaluate the best approach to producing lower-cost electrolysed hydrogen. We are thrilled to begin SOEC hydrogen production.”
