"We are looking forward to forming a powerful team together with staxera. Due to its many years of experience in the field of fuel cell technology, staxera is in an excellent position to develop efficient electrolysers. For us, this acquisition is a significant milestone since the foundation of SunFire," says Carl Berninghausen, CEO of SunFire.
The process developed by SunFire, which was established in Bremen in June 2010, begins with the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen by using electrolysis, driven by renewable electrical energy (derived from sunlight, wind or water). A subsequent step is the reaction of hydrogen and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide to form renewable, synthetic petrol, diesel and kerosene. An important precondition for the economic viability of the process is a high efficiency of the electrolysis.
staxera develops, manufactures and sells SOFC high-temperature fuel cells. A wide range of liquid and gaseous fuels can be used to generate electricity and heat in high-temperature fuel cells. Fuel cells are suitable for both mobile applications and for decentralised, stationary applications such as residential microCHP units using natural gas, biogas or wind gas. The acquisition means that SOEC high-temperature electrolysis will be added to staxera's product portfolio. The combination of both business sectors means that synergies can be utilised and future production costs will be reduced, thus also strengthening the existing SOFC business.
While, in a fuel cell hydrogen containing fuel gas reacts with oxygen from the air by generating electricity, electrolysis is used to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen by adding electrical energy. Electrolysis reverses the principle of the fuel cell, while the components of electrolysis and fuel cell stacks are very similar. Thus staxera is in a good position to develop highly efficient electrolysers and fuel cells.
Since 2008, SunFire's process has been extensively tested from both an economic and a technical point of view during the course of a detailed viability study. In 2010 an initial prototype on a laboratory scale was commissioned. The next milestone will be the establishment of a test plant with a production capacity of one barrel of fuel per day. The first pre-industrial prototypes are to be constructed in 2016
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