Sunfire delivers the world’s largest high-temperature electrolyzer to Salzgitter Flachstahl

2020-09-01

Sep. 1, 2020 - Sunfire has successfully delivered the world’s most powerful High-Temperature Electrolyzer (HTE) for highly energy-efficient hydrogen production to Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH. Within the GrInHy2.0 project, Sunfire’s HTE system with a rated electrical output of 720 kilowatts will be deployed in an industrial environment for the first time. GrInHy2.0 is another step by Salzgitter AG towards low CO2 steel production within the framework of the innovation project SALCOS® - Salzgitter Low CO2 Steelmaking. The electrolyzer is expected to be in operation for at least 13,000 hours by the end of 2022, while producing at least 100 tons of green hydrogen from renewable electricity.

"In the course of the recently adopted hydrogen strategies of the European Union and Germany, politicians pointed out the need for large scale electrolyzers for the production of sustainable steel products. Green steel requires green hydrogen and the implementation of GrInHy2.0 showcases the great potential of this energy carrier for energy-intensive industries” said Nils Aldag, Managing Director of Sunfire GmbH “At present, the steel industry is intensively developing new and low-CO2 production routes. We are pleased to participate in this together with our partners. The technology is ready for hydrogen production on an industrial scale, and we are ready to significantly increase our production capacity for this purpose".

Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH and Sunfire have already pioneered the GrInHy project in 2016. In cooperation with its partners Paul Wurth S.A., Tenova SpA, the French research center CEA and Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH, GrInHy2.0 will now continue to build on the success of the initial project.

Dr. Benedikt Ritterbach, Managing Director of Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH and responsible for research and development in the Salzgitter Group: "Green hydrogen is a central building block on our way to low CO2 steel production. GrInHy2.0 will provide us with further findings in the industrial demonstration operation of a High-Temperature Electrolyzer. By integrating this world's most powerful plant into large-scale industrial processes, we are breaking new ground in energy-efficient hydrogen production".

This project has received funding from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under Grant Agreement No 826350. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research.