With over 20 years of expertise in electrolysis and fuel cell testing, the VTT Hydrogen production team is a veteran in the field of solid oxide technologies (SOEC/SOFC). Our mission is to transform the green hydrogen economy into a reality by enhancing our customers’ products, making them more efficient and cost-effective.
At VTT, we provide a broad spectrum of testing services for single cells, stacks, systems, and Balance of Plant (BOP) components. This technical work is complemented by detailed techno-economical and system-perspective modelling.
Tailored Testing for Next-Generation Performance
Our infrastructure for SOEC/SOFC testing includes over ten in-house built test benches for stacks, single cells, and BOP components. Because these systems are built internally, we can easily modify them to meet specific customer requirements.
Our most common operations include:
Long-term Durability: Performing tests ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of operating hours.
Integrated Performance: Conducting IV (current-voltage) and fuel utilisation tests.
Electrical & Environmental Testing: Carrying out load and thermal cycling, along with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)
As technology matures, understanding the actual operational lifetime becomes paramount. Knowing how realistic operating models affect degradation rates is essential for manufacturers to identify the primary degradation methods at different points in a product’s lifecycle.
Leading the Way in CLEANHYPRO
Within the CLEANHYPRO project, VTT has played a central role in the development and validation of SOEC cells featuring novel air electrode materials. Our main task involved the analysis and testing of SOEC stacks containing a variety of standard and innovative cells. These tests included long-term SOEC operation for approximately 2,000 hours, EIS measurements, and performance testing in both SOFC and SOEC modes.
Furthermore, VTT has advanced its hydrogen infrastructure through CLEANHYPRO by developing a comprehensive hydrogen storage unit. This system includes:
A Compressor Unit: Capable of reaching up to 350 bar with a flow rate of 2.5 – 5 Nm3/h.
Gas Quality Monitoring: Utilising a gas chromatograph (GC) for precise analysis.
Gas Storage: Specifically designed to store SOEC product gas.
Conclusion
VTT continues to offer a large variety of services across SOC, PEM, and Alkaline technologies, ranging from single cells to system-level testing and modelling. CLEANHYPRO represents a significant step forward, allowing us to participate in the development of all primary electrolyser technologies and bringing us closer to a future of efficient green hydrogen production.
