In This Article:
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Largest and first fully integrated electrolyzer to be tested at Idaho National Laboratory.
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Testing to validate 100% electrical efficiency with nuclear integration.
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Hydrogen production capabilities show multiple uses of nuclear energy for energy production.
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System can provide critical grid support through production of clean hydrogen at lower cost.
DANBURY, Conn., Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL) announced that its solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) system has begun a testing and validation period at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL), which focuses on innovations in nuclear research, renewable energy systems and security solutions.
The project, funded partially by a 2020 U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy award, will study how hydrogen production operations can help nuclear plants diversify and increase their profitability by switching between electricity production and hydrogen generation. The testing will also look at the potential of advanced small modular reactor designs (200 to 500 MWs in size) paired with FuelCell Energy’s SOEC utility scale electrolzyers.
The testing involves the largest electrolyzer to be studied at INL, and it is expected to show that the technology can reduce the cost of clean hydrogen production by converting 100% of the electricity and water fed into the system into zero carbon hydrogen. Additionally, the FuelCell Energy electrolyzer
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will produce 150 kilograms of hydrogen per day,
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from 250 kilowatts of nuclear energy-generated electricity,
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simulating the benefits of 100% efficiency when waste heat from the nuclear power plant is used.
Unlike past testing INL has conducted on electrolysis “stacks,” the FuelCell Energy electrolyzer being studied is a fully integrated solid oxide electrolyzer system.
FuelCell Energy President and CEO Jason Few commented, “Pairing FuelCell Energy’s electrolyzer with nuclear plants is an excellent example of the ‘all-of-the-above' energy strategy that is necessary to meet the needs of a strained electric infrastructure.”
“Nuclear energy is a baseload power source that when paired with FuelCell Energy’s electrolyzer can ensure that every kilowatt of power is converted into a usable or stored energy resource. FuelCell Energy's electrolysis platform can enable 100% smart energy utilization.”
What makes FuelCell Energy’s electrolyzer different?
An electrolyzer is a system that performs electrolysis, which is the process of using electricity to split water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). Hydrogen produced from electrolysis can be stored long term and transported, allowing energy from wind, solar, and nuclear to be available on demand.