Weichai Releases World's First Commercialized High-power Metal-supported SOFC

JINAN, SHANDONG, China, March 23, 2023 /chinatrucks.com/ -- On the morning of February 18, 2023, Weichai released the world's first commercialized large-power metal-supported SOFC product, which has achieved a record-breaking combined heat and power (CHP) efficiency of 92.55% for high-power SOFC systems.

At the press conference, Tan Xuguang, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Internal Combustion Engine and Powertrain System, introduced the technology and application of Weichai SOFC products in detail. The product has also obtained the European CE certification issued by the international testing institution, TÜV SÜD. Ling Wen, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Shandong Association for Science and Technology; Su Wanhua, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor of Tianjin University; Liu Weimin, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Researcher of Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shu Gequn, Secretary of CPC Committee and Professor of University of Science and Technology of China attended the new product release event. As a new generation of fuel cell, SOFCs are a power generation device that converts the chemical energy of fuel directly into electrical energy in an efficient, low-carbon and environmentally friendly way at high temperatures. It is currently the most efficient new energy technology route for power generation in the world, with a power generation efficiency of over 60% and combined heat and power efficiency of over 85%. In addition, SOFCs have the advantages of fuel flexibility, green and low-carbon emissions, and no use of precious metals. They can use a variety of fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen, coal gas, biomass gas, and methanol. SOFCs using natural gas can achieve more than 30% reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional natural gas generators.

In May 2018, Weichai Power strategically invested in British SOFC technology company Ceres Power, becoming its largest shareholder. Weichai has invested 2 billion yuan in total, and the two sides have set up a research and development team consisting about 100 PhDs. After 5 years of efforts, the team achieved SOFC technology engineering breakthrough, a comprehensive control of the new generation of SOFC key core technology. 
Weichai's latest product is the world's first commercially available high-power metal-supported SOFC product with a system power of 120 kW, supporting modular installation and can be scaled up to megawatt-level power. The product’s CHP efficiency has reached 92.55%, the highest in high-power SOFC systems worldwide. It has achieved significant technological breakthroughs:

1. The product has achieved a CHP efficiency of up to 92.55%, the highest in high-power SOFC systems worldwide.

2. Weichai is the first in the world to use the latest generation of metal-supported SOFC technology, which has outstanding advantages such as low operating temperature and strong resistance to thermal shocks compared to traditional electrolyte-supported and anode-supported technologies. The product has overcome the technical difficulties of operating temperatures from 800℃ to 600℃. The system's number of start-stop cycles is more than four times that of international competitors, and its start-up speed is more than three times that of international competitors, reaching the international leading level.

3. The product has passed 39 certification tests for the European CE certification by the international authoritative testing institution TÜV SÜD.

In addition, SOFCs have the advantages of fuel flexibility, green low carbon emissions and the absence of precious metals. They can use a variety of fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen, gas, biomass gas and methanol. SOFCs using natural gas can achieve over 30% reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional natural gas generators. Weichai’s SOFC product has been demonstrated in the Weichai Fuel Cell Industry Park and the Weifang Energy Group, accumulating more than 30,000 hours of operation, achieving a breakthrough in commercial operation. The product can provide efficient electricity and thermal energy supply, greatly reducing customer energy costs and has good economic benefits.

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