RROC

SOEC appears to be a possible game-changer technology for several markets in the mid/long term (2025 – 2030), identified as: (i) large scale H2 production thanks to its high-power efficiency when external heat is available, (ii) Power-to-X by coupling SOEC with chemical reactors to produce several fuels/liquids such as ammonia, methanol and formic acid, (iii) Power-to-Power thanks to its reversible SOFC/SOEC operation ability. From an industrial perspective, the key aspects to consider are performance, durability, scaling up/manufacturing ability and operational flexibility (temperature, fueling gas composition, produced gas, etc.). In particular, durability is a critical aspect for most SOEC applications that must be addressed as it has a direct impact on the economic viability of most potential commercial solutions that include SOEC technology. To address these aspects, this project called RROC aims to develop and optimize a breakthrough technology based on a full scale cell that will incorporate innovative architectures as well as alternative SOEC materials through scalable and cost competitive processes. These innovative architectures also aim to a standardized industrial production based on the expertise of all partners of RROC project, while reaching performance and durability levels similar to current state-of-the-art and compatible with a commercialization for the three main markets of interest mentioned earlier. These innovative architectures of SOFC/SOEC are based here on three main original approaches: - Optimization of cell design and material selection from thermomechanical modeling of systems in the operating conditions, leading to durability improvement - Monolithic design corresponding to higher thermochemical properties, obtained by co-casting process of tapes, leading to durability improvement and cost reduction - Simple shaping process (co-casting of tapes) of cells in order to limit the number of production step and the production cost, leading to low cost production