Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell by Mitsubishi Power Europe commences commissioning at GWI in Essen, Germany

- Mitsubishi Power’s SOFC is a public demonstration of alternative clean energy systems that could power Europe’s future.

- Situated in Essen, the energy capital of Europe, the highly efficient hybrid SOFC is intended to research the flexible operation of the hybrid SOFC and the use of hydrogen gas.

- Hybrid SOFCs hold great potential to power buildings or campuses hospitals, industries. They can be integrated into heat and power systems, can function independently or connected to a power grid, and use various fuels.

- Mitsubishi Power Europe and the Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e.V. jointly celebrated the commissioning of the first SOFC in Europe. The SOFC will be used to research flexible operation and utilization of hydrogen gas under real conditions.

DUISBURG / ESSEN (June 03, 2022) – Mitsubishi Power’s first hybrid solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) in Europe began operations today at the Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e.V. (GWI). The SOFC is a public demonstration of low-emissions, alternative clean energy systems that could power Europe’s future. The hybrid SOFC can operate with different fuels – from natural gas to biogas to hydrogen – under real conditions and is integrated with the GWI’s power and heat supply.

Professor Emmanouil Kakaras Executive Vice President NEXT Energy Business, Head of Duisburg Branch at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA, Ltd., says “This prestigious project along with the GWI, is proof that a future with clean energy from sustainable sources is possible. As Europe embarks on the journey towards NetZero by 2050, technologies such as this will realize the goal of decarbonizing power.”

Situated in Essen, the energy capital of Europe, the highly efficient hybrid SOFC is intended to demonstrate and research the flexible operation of the hybrid SOFC and the use of hydrogen gas. The system is part of a research project “KWK.NRW 4.0” funded by the North-Rhine Westphalia state and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Thomas Kufen, Lord Mayor of the city of Essen, says “The City of Essen continues to live up to its historic reputation of leading the way in energy. We are proud to work together with the GWI and Mitsubishi Power Europe to explore technologies that will help Europe transition to a low-carbon economy. This is a breakthrough milestone heralding an era of climate-neutral resource-saving energy technology.”

Hybrid SOFCs hold great potential for everyday applications such as buildings or campuses hospitals, industries. They can be integrated into heat and power systems, can function independently or connected to a power grid, and use various fuels. When operated exclusively with hydrogen, the only emission is water.

“With the SOFC operational at the GWI campus, we are now looking forward to testing the possibilities. The flexibility of the plant, including ease of starting up and shutting down, its role in integrating renewable energy when the sun is not shining or the wind isn’t blowing; and most of all the potential for sustainable power using hydrogen, are aspects we will be looking into,” says Professor Klaus Görner, scientific director of the GWI.

Mitsubishi Power has several technologies that lead the energy transition, including hydrogen-ready gas turbines, large-scale battery storage solutions, bio-mass conversion, fuel-switch technologies, and heat pump systems. Mitsubishi Power has installed nine SOFC units in Japan; this is the first in Europe.

From left to right: Andre Boschem Managing Director, Essen Business Development Corporation  EWG, Tobias Rüschhoff-Nadermann, Mitsubishi Power Europe,  Professor Klaus Görner, Scientific Board GWI, Thomas Kufen, Lord Mayor City of Essen

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About Mitsubishi Power in Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Mitsubishi Power Europe, Ltd. is a leading provider and innovator of technology and solutions for the energy sector, who with its predecessor companies have had a presence in the region since 1908. Today, there are more than 1,000 employees across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with centers of excellence in Germany, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to customer support capabilities in countries across the region. Mitsubishi Power designs, manufactures and maintains equipment and systems that drive decarbonization and ensures the delivery of reliable power. Among its solutions are a wide range of gas turbines, including hydrogen-fueled gas turbines and solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and an experienced services business with an extensive reach across the entire region. Committed to providing exemplary service and working with customers, Mitsubishi Power's TOMONI_™ intelligent solutions leverages advanced analytics, adaptive control technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning to make power plants smarter, lowering emissions, increasing flexibility and supporting decarbonization. Mitsubishi Power is a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), whose engineering and manufacturing businesses span energy, infrastructure, transport, aerospace and defense.

For more information, please visit: https://power.mhi.com/regions/emea/

PRESS CONTACT:

Claudia Wedemann

Mitsubishi Power Europe GmbH

Tel.: +49 203 8038 1368

Email: [email protected]