From power generation to hydrogen production: Ceres’ new stack bets on the high-temperature technology route

Thread Content

From power generation to hydrogen production: Ceres’ new stack bets on high-temperature technology. The British technology licensing company Ceres has introduced a 10.8kW solid oxide stack, believing that this product can meet the growing demand for on-site power supply in data centers and reduce the production costs of green hydrogen. 　　The stack, named Endura, is based on Ceres’ steel-substrate solid oxide cell technology and operates at temperatures ranging from 450–630°C. This product can be used for power generation in fuel cell mode as well as for hydrogen production in electrolysis mode. 　　Nick Lawrence, Ceres’ Chief Product Officer, said: “Ceres Endura transforms decades of solid oxide technology development into a mature platform that is ready for large-scale deployment and capable of long-term stable operation.” ”　　In terms of power generation, Ceres claims that the stack can achieve an electrical efficiency of 69% when using natural gas, with an overall efficiency of over 90% in cogeneration applications. 　　In terms of electrolysis, the company states that the stack can produce 20.88 kg of hydrogen per day, with an energy consumption of 34.5 kWh/kg. The company claims that by utilizing industrial waste heat, its efficiency can be increased by about 30% compared to “traditional low-temperature electrolysis”. 　　The designed lifespan of this stack is 5 years, which also reflects the current issue of performance degradation faced by high-temperature technology platforms. 　　The launch of this product follows Ceres’ new strategy announced in 2025, which gives priority to advancing the use of its solid oxide technology in natural gas fuel cell power generation. 　　Although solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can operate using hydrogen, Ceres believes that natural gas can more quickly meet the growing demand for \"behind-the-meter\" power, while also paving the way for a future transition to hydrogen. 　　As Ceres’ first authorized fuel cell partner, Doosan Fuel Cell has built a 50MW plant in South Korea in 2025 to produce fixed-type power generation fuel cell systems fueled by natural gas. 　　Last month, energy company Centrica signed a partnership agreement with Ceres to explore the use of natural gas fuel cells to provide on-site power for data centers and industrial sites in Europe. 　　Although natural gas fuel cells still produce some carbon dioxide emissions, these emissions are lower compared to traditional combustion systems. Additionally, they prevent the formation of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. 　　As market demand for hydrogen is growing at a slower pace than initially anticipated by the industry, Ceres is gradually positioning its solid oxide technology as the long-term approach for green hydrogen production. 　　At present, solid oxide electrolysis technology is still in its early stages, and there are no large-scale commercial projects operating worldwide.