Ceres Power Holdings plc (Horsham, U.K.) and Doosan Fuel Cell Ltd. (DFCC) announce that mass market production of fuel cell stacks using Ceres’ solid-oxide technology has commenced. Doosan Fuel Cell will manufacture the stacks and fuel cell power systems at its dedicated factory in South Korea with the ability to produce a combined generational capacity of 50MW of electrical power each year.
This commencement of manufacturing marks a significant milestone for Ceres, as Doosan is the first of its strategic licensing partners to enter mass production using its technology. The fuel cells, stacks and power systems that Doosan Fuel Cell produces will be marketed initially to customers in South Korea.
The Ceres designed fuel cells will be manufactured in Doosan Fuel Cell’s state-of-the-art factory in the province of Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, where construction began in 2022. Its completion marks the world’s first Ceres metal supported solid oxide fuel cell and systems facility to come on-stream. Doosan Fuel Cell anticipates the sale of its first solid oxide fuel cell products will occur before the end of 2025. Last year, Ceres entered a collaboration with Thermax, Ltd. for the manufacture and sale of solid-oxide electrolyzer modules in India.
Doosan Fuel Cell will distribute the solid oxide systems, with a primary market focus on applications for stationary distributed power. These include data centres, where the advent of AI processing has caused a spike in power demand that can be met by the deployment of fuel cells. Other uses include the stabilisation of renewables-based power grids and microgrids through peak power production, power systems for buildings, and auxiliary power solutions for marine shipping markets.
“Fuel cells have a major part to play in meeting the world’s rapidly-increasing power demands, developing energy resilience and ensuring decarbonisation. Ceres’ solid oxide design is the ideal technology for these applications through its higher efficiency, lower cost and greater robustness than other technologies. Doosan Fuel Cell’s commencement of mass manufacturing is a major step in bringing this technology to the world,” said Phil Caldwell, Chief Executive Officer of Ceres.
“Fuel cells, a clean energy solution, are gaining attention as an optimal alternative to various power demands triggered by AI, including data centres. In South Korea, the world’s leading fuel cell market, we aim to lead the adoption of advanced SOFCs by leveraging our collaboration with Ceres. By commercialising these technologies and promoting their domestic production, we intend to spearhead the acceleration of the global transition to a decarbonised society through eco-friendly energy solutions in the commercial power market and maritime mobility,” said Doosoon Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Doosan Fuel Cell.