The world's first! Weichai release solid oxide fuel cell products

On February 18, Weichai released the world's first high-power metal support commercial SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) product. On site, the international authoritative testing agency T Å V South German Group issued the EU CE certification for Weichai's products. The efficiency of the product's cogeneration reached 92.55%, setting the world's highest record for the efficiency of high-power SOFC cogeneration systems.

SOFC, as a new generation fuel cell, is a power generation device that directly converts the chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy at medium to high temperatures in an efficient, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly manner. It is currently the most efficient new energy technology route worldwide. Its power generation efficiency can reach over 60%, and the efficiency of cogeneration can reach over 85%. At the same time, it also has advantages such as flexible fuel, green and low-carbon, and does not use precious metals. It can use various fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen, coal to gas, biomass gas, methanol, etc. SOFC using natural gas can achieve a carbon reduction of more than 30% compared to traditional natural gas power generation units.

Weichai has been laying out its SOFC business since 2018, strategically investing in the world's leading SOFC technology company, British company Hilith, and becoming its largest shareholder. As of now, a total of 2 billion yuan has been invested, and both parties have formed a research and development team mainly composed of 100 doctoral students. After 5 years of effort, we have achieved an engineering breakthrough in SOFC technology and fully mastered the key core technologies of the new generation of SOFC.

It is reported that Weichai has released the world's first high-power metal supported commercial SOFC product, with a system power of 120kW and support for modular installation. The power can be extended to the megawatt level, achieving a significant technological breakthrough: the cogeneration efficiency of the product reaches 92.55%, which is the highest in the world of high-power SOFC systems; The world takes the lead in using the most advanced new generation metal supported SOFC technology. Compared with the traditional electrolyte support and anode support technology, it has the outstanding advantages of low operating temperature and strong thermal shock resistance. In particular, it has achieved a breakthrough in the technical difficulties from high temperature 800 degrees to 600 degrees. The system can start and stop more than 4 times of the international competitive products, and the starting speed is more than 3 times of the international competitive products, reaching the international leading level; The product has passed the EU CE certification by the international authoritative testing agency T Å V South Germany, and has completed 39 full certification tests.

With the deepening of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, the global energy system and development model are undergoing profound changes. In both the "double carbon" strategy and the "14th Five Year Plan", China clearly proposed to accelerate the development of renewable energy and promote the construction of distributed generation and micro grid.

As a leading enterprise in China's equipment manufacturing industry, Weichai adheres to the "dual engine driven" strategy of traditional energy and new energy. Last year, the world's first diesel engine with a thermal efficiency of 51% and 52% was continuously released. At the same time, it actively promoted new energy shift overtaking, took the lead in building a national fuel cell technology innovation center, comprehensively laid out the three new energy technology routes of power cell, hydrogen fuel cell and solid oxide fuel cell, and achieved global leadership in core technology and industrialization in the field of hydrogen fuel cell. SOFC is another major strategic layout of Weichai in the diversified development of energy.

The Weichai SOFC product released this time has advantages such as high efficiency, good reliability, wide fuel adaptability, and stable power energy output. It is suitable for multiple scenarios such as industrial parks, buildings, and data centers, and can provide green and low-carbon solutions for distributed energy and microgrids. It is a disruptive new energy technology route that will be widely applied in the future.

Weichai SOFC products have been demonstrated in Weichai Fuel Cell Industrial Park and Weifang Energy Group, with a cumulative operation of over 30000 hours, achieving a breakthrough in commercial operation. Weichai SOFC products efficiently supply electricity and heat energy, significantly reducing customer energy costs. Yin Bo, Deputy General Manager of Weifang Energy Group Bintou Distributed Energy Co., Ltd., stated that in practical use, Weichai SOFC products operate stably, with a net power generation efficiency of over 60%. One party of natural gas can generate 6 kilowatt hours of electricity, and can be adjusted according to peak and valley electricity prices, with good economic benefits.

According to calculations, when the installed capacity of Weichai SOFC products as distributed energy reaches 1GW, it can reduce carbon by about 2 million tons per year compared to taking electricity from the power grid, and save about 600 million cubic meters of natural gas compared to traditional natural gas internal combustion engine generator sets; If biomass gas and green hydrogen are used as fuels, zero carbon emissions can be achieved, promoting the implementation of the national dual carbon target. At the same time, as a new solution for distributed energy and microgrids, Weichai SOFC products can not only effectively ensure the security of power supply, but also provide technical reserves and the strength to overturn new business forms for the development of Weichai Power in the coming decades. As a disruptive innovation in the global energy field, the large-scale application of SOFC will inevitably bring significant economic and social benefits.

Tan Xuguang, director of the National Key Laboratory of Internal Combustion Engine and Power Systems, said that in the future, Weichai will actively respond to the national energy strategy, promote the energy technological revolution, and contribute to the implementation of China's "double carbon" goal. (Dazhong Daily)