Topsoe Opens Europe's Largest SOEC Facility
- The facility in Herning, Denmark, has an annual capacity of 500MW, scalable to 10GW over ten years.
- Topsoe's investment is supported by EUR 94 million from the EU Innovation Fund.
- The facility aims to reduce 15 million metric tons of CO2 annually compared to natural gas-derived hydrogen.
- Topsoe has agreements with First Ammonia in Texas and Forestal in Spain for green ammonia and e-methanol projects.
Facility Overview
Topsoe has inaugurated Europe's largest Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) manufacturing facility in Herning, Denmark. The facility is designed to produce high-efficiency electrolysis stacks for industrial-scale green hydrogen production, with an initial annual capacity of 500MW, scalable to 10GW over ten years.
Investment and Support
This project represents Topsoe's largest investment to date, supported by EUR 94 million from the EU Innovation Fund. The facility aims to contribute significantly to decarbonizing energy-intensive industries, which account for about 30% of global CO₂ emissions.
Environmental Impact
When fully operational, the facility is expected to enable the reduction of 15 million metric tons of CO2 annually, compared to hydrogen produced from natural gas. This reduction is equivalent to the annual emissions of nearly 3.5 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles.
Partnerships and Agreements
Topsoe has signed offtake agreements with First Ammonia for a green ammonia project in Texas, US, and with Forestal for an e-methanol project in Spain. Both agreements include a 10-year service warranty program.
Technological Advancements
The SOEC technology used in the facility operates at higher temperatures than other electrolyzer technologies, achieving around 20% higher efficiency, which can increase to 30% with steam integration. This results in a lower levelized hydrogen cost per megawatt volume.
Source: Topsoe