KSOE to develop large-capacity fuel cells

The Korean shipbuilder signed agreement with Estonia’s Elcogen to jointly develop SOFC and water electrolysis systems

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), an intermediate holding company of HD Hyundai Co., has decided to develop fuel cells for marine power generation and secure eco-friendly hydrogen production technology with Europe’s largest research institute and fuel cell parts supplier.

KSOE said on Monday that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Fraunhofer Society in Germany and Elcogen in Estonia to develop solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and water electrolysis systems at CES 2023, the world’s largest electronics and IT trade show recently held in Las Vegas.

Under the terms of the deal, the South Korean company, along with the two European entities, will begin detailed design and prototype testing of large-capacity solid fuel cell systems used for vessels and power generation.

Already, it has worked on the basic design of the fuel cell system with Fraunhofer since February last year.

A solid oxide fuel cell is a device that generates electrical energy by reacting not only hydrogen but also various fuel sources such as natural gas, ammonia, methanol, and biofuel with oxygen.

It has high power generation efficiency and can recycle waste heat generated by high-temperature firing between 600 and 1,000 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for ship engines and power cogeneration.

Fraunhofer is the largest applied research and development institute in Europe with 72 research institutes throughout Germany and has world-class technology in the field of solid oxide fuel cells and water electrolysis technology.

Established in 2001, meanwhile, Elcogen is a small-but-strong company that manufactures cells, which are core parts of solid oxide fuel cells, and cell stacks, which are aggregates of cells.

“HD Hyundai Group is promoting to create a hydrogen value chain that would lead to the production, transportation, storage, and utilization of eco-friendly hydrogen. With the latest agreement, we plan to secure core technologies in the areas of eco-friendly hydrogen generation and fuel-cell manufacturing,” said Kim Seong-joon, head (vice president) of Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Institute of Future Technology.