Sunfire begins construction of high-temperature electrolyzer in Lausitz

Dresden-based company Sunfire has broken ground on a new high-temperature solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) test plant at the BASF industrial site in Schwarzheide, located within the Lausitz Industrial Park.

This new generation of technology aims to increase the efficiency of green hydrogen production by utilizing industrial waste heat. Operating at temperatures around 800 degrees Celsius, the SOEC process can achieve efficiency levels of up to 89 percent, potentially making hydrogen production more cost-effective than established methods.

The test facility will have a nominal power consumption of approximately 1.3 megawatts and a production rate of 36.5 kilograms per hour. This project serves as a validation step under real industrial conditions, marking a milestone toward the commercial application of high-temperature electrolysis for industrial decarbonization.