OUTFOX: Optimized up-scaled technology for next-generation solid oxide electrolysis

Solutions for large-scale and sustainable hydrogen production are desperately needed, as hydrogen has the potential to effectively decarbonize key industrial sectors and energy production. Solid oxide electrolysis (SOEL), in contrast to other green hydrogen generation methods, has an unmatched conversion efficiency. Nevertheless, state-of-the-art SOEL systems are not compatible with cost-effective manufacturing techniques that can create electrochemical cells at the necessary scale. Moreover, they are not able to produce hydrogen at the necessary rate and cost. In this context, the EU-funded OUTFOX project aims to eliminate scale as an obstacle to deployment of SOEL technology while showcasing its potential to become preferred option for green hydrogen production. The goal of the industrially driven OUTFOX consortium is to increase the maturity of SOEL and support the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking to achieve its targets by combining expertise in cell, stack, and module research, manufacturing, and full system evaluation. With cells which are 25% thinner than the current state-of-the-art, OUTFOX will be able to reach current densities of at least 0.85 A/cm2, improving sustainability by lowering the overall amount of materials needed. Utilizing single repeating units, short stacks of 15 cells, and 80 kW prototype systems, the partners will validate high current density operation with reference scale (144 cm2), industrial scale (>300 cm2), and next-generation cells (900 cm2). This will result in more than 10,000 hours of SOEL operation. Ultimately, a thorough validation of the OUTFOX technology will be established by two 80 kW testing campaigns with two distinct stack configurations over a total 4000 hours of operation. These testing campaigns will be conducted on-site at the Shell facilities in Amsterdam. Through the combination of optimal cell and system designs and experimental results up to 80 kW scales, OUTFOX will prepare SOEL for industrial scale systems of 100+ MW with an LCOH as low as €2.7/kg hydrogen. The present contribution will provide an overview of the project scope, objectives and preliminary accomplishments.