Sunfire Dresden: New 50-MW electrolysis system to help the green hydrogen market take off
Sunfire is launching HyLink® Alkaline 23, a new outdoor-ready pressurized alkaline electrolysis system. The 50-MW electrolysis module is designed for three-digit MW projects and reduces the total installed cost (TIC) for customers by up to 50%.
A key component of HyLink® Alkaline 23 is Sunfire’s proven second-generation 30-bar(g) pressure alkaline stack. The increased operating pressure significantly reduces the requirements for downstream hydrogen compression. The stack technology is already in use in industrial plants across Europe, where it has demonstrated its effectiveness in the production of green hydrogen.
Modular 50-MW system design for large-scale projects
Based on experience from ongoing industrial projects in the double-digit megawatt range, Sunfire has specifically further developed its previous 10-MW pressurized alkali module for use in projects in the triple-digit megawatt range. The new 50-MW module combines five times the installed capacity of the previous solution with a complete design for outdoor operation.
As part of the new system design, key plant components have been consolidated, additional components such as air cooling have been integrated as standard, and the degree of prefabrication has been significantly increased. At the same time, system interfaces have been optimized. This greatly simplifies installation and commissioning while simultaneously reducing the total hydrogen plant cost (TIC) significantly.
Using a 100-MW project as an example, the number of electrolysis modules required is reduced from ten to two. The construction of an electrolysis building is no longer necessary.
Christian von Olshausen, CTO of Sunfire, emphasizes: “With the new system, we are leveraging five key factors to improve cost-effectiveness: First, we are increasing module capacity from 10 to 50 megawatts, thereby significantly reducing material and component costs. Second, the solution is fully designed for outdoor operation, eliminating buildings and building-related infrastructure as major cost drivers. Third, central interfaces are already integrated into the system, which significantly reduces complexity. Fourth, a high degree of prefabrication shortens installation time and minimizes on-site effort. Fifth, the system is based on our proven 30-bar stack technology with validated performance. Together, these five improvements reduce the total cost of installation for our customers by up to 50 percent.”
Designed for the next phase of industrial market ramp-up
With HyLink® Alkaline 23, Sunfire specifically addresses the changing requirements of large-scale hydrogen projects in energy-intensive industries, such as refineries, chemical production, and ammonia production, which are building their hydrogen supply in a climate-friendly manner and at an industrial scale for the future.
Nils Aldag, CEO of Sunfire, emphasizes: “We have actively helped shape this market and, over the past 16 years, have implemented projects ranging from a few hundred kilowatts to low megawatt capacities and up to industrial scale. In doing so, we have worked closely with our customers and gained a deep understanding of what matters in practice. Accordingly, our current 100-MW projects are also follow-up orders from existing customers.”