Solid oxide electrolysis for grid balancing

A future Danish energy system based on a high amount of fluctuating renewable energy requires more cost effective and larger scale technologies for the storage of intermittent electricity. Use of the solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology allows for a large proportion of renewable energy to be integrated by facilitating the storage of surplus electricity. SOEC units can be used to convert electricity to energy carriers such as hydrogen or syngas (H2+CO). The energy carriers may be stored and later reconverted into electricity at peak demand. The syngas could also be further processed to methane distributed via the national gas grid or synthetic fuels used in the transportation sector. This project will make significant progress towards realising reliable SOEC cells and stacks for balancing of the Danish electricity system. Focus will be on developing robust and reliable SOEC cells and stacks under realistic grid balancing schemes. Critical research issues for the foreseen upscale to MW level of the technology will be addressed. In addition, key components for closely heat and flow integrated SOEC systems will be developed. All these are necessary for SOECs to become an active part of future Danish electricity system available from 2020.