Solid-oxide electrolyser and fuel-cell manufacturer Ceres says initial testing of its new electrolyser module indicates it can deliver green hydrogen around 25pc more efficiently than existing, lower-temperature technologies.

Testing is underway on a 100kW version of the technology, ahead of scaling up to a 1MW demonstrator. 

“Initial results are positive and give confidence that this technology can deliver green hydrogen at <40kWh/kg, around 25pc more efficiently than incumbent lower temperature technologies,” Ceres says in a trading update.

The company expects 2022 revenue and other operating income to be in line with previous guidance of £21mn ($25.78mn)—a 34pc fall year-on-year—with a gross margin of 60pc. But the company is optimistic that its investments have set the stage for future growth, despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop, according to Ceres CEO Phil Caldwell.

£21mn – Ceres revenue guidance for 2022

“We remain focused on building a world-leading team and capability in solid-oxide fuel-cells and electrolysis and partnering to deliver global deployment of our technologies at scale and pace,” he says.

Ceres has agreed to the structure of Chinese joint ventures with two of its largest shareholders, diesel engine manufacturer Weichai and German engineering firm Bosch, although “a number of commercial points” are still awaiting resolution, the firm says.

The strategic collaboration announced in February aims to set up two joint ventures. The first, focused on the development and manufacture of solid-oxide fuel-cell systems, will have Weichai as its majority shareholder while Ceres will hold a maximum 10pc share. The second, focused on supplying fuel-cell stacks to the first JV, will not feature Ceres as a shareholder, although the firm will receive royalties on the supply of its solid-oxide fuel-cell technology to the Chinese market through an extension of Bosch’s existing licence.

Ceres is also on track to deliver a megawatt-scale solid-oxide electrolyser to Shell this year for a three-year test programme in Bengaluru, India.

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Author: Polly Martin