Ceres Power Holdings, a prominent UK-based developer of clean energy technology, has announced a significant milestone in its collaboration with Shell. The company revealed on Tuesday that it has been awarded a further contract for the second phase of their partnership. This phase aims to advance the design of a solid-oxide electrolyser module tailored for large-scale industrial applications.

According to the official press release, the module developed through this collaboration is envisioned for use in critical industrial processes such as the production of synthetic fuels, ammonia, and green steel. The focus of the contract is on crafting a pressurized module design capable of scaling to hundreds of megawatts. This design will seamlessly integrate with industrial plants to produce sustainable future fuels, the release stated.

Phil Caldwell, Chief Executive of Ceres, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, noting, ?Our strategic collaboration with Shell continues to provide valuable insights, ensuring Ceres? SOEC technology is well positioned to meet our partners? needs for the green hydrogen and synthetic fuels markets.?

The collaboration between Ceres and Shell dates back to 2022 and has already resulted in the deployment of a one-megawatt SOEC system at Shell?s R&D facility in Bangalore, India. Leveraging key learnings and data from this demonstration project, the current program aims to develop a commercially competitive and scalable solution.

Highlighting the efficiency gains of SOEC technology, the company stated, ?SOEC technology results in about 35 per cent more hydrogen produced per unit of electrical energy when coupled with heat from industrial processes.? The project will further explore pressurized systems to enhance efficiency, performance, and integration with other processes. It targets achieving a module level efficiency of less than 36kWh/kg of hydrogen, aligning with EU SOE 2030 technology targets.

The contract represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions and underscores the commitment of both companies towards driving innovation in the clean energy sector.