Horizon Europe · Clean Hydrogen Partnership

Boosting efficiency and lifetime of planar solid oxide electrolysers

An EU-funded project developing AC:DC-operated solid oxide electrolyser stacks for large-scale green hydrogen production.

Explore the project Get in touch
Key innovation
AC:DC mode
Degradation target
−40% vs conventional SOEL
Operating temperature
700 °C
Current density
> 1 A/cm²
Cell area
80 cm²
Duration
48 months 2026–2029

The innovation

Discover the innovation behind ThunderStack

At the heart of ThunderStack is the exploration of innovative AC:DC operation modes for high-temperature solid oxide electrolysers, to enhance electrochemical performance and reduce degradation.

Together with advanced materials, scalable manufacturing, balance-of-plant simplification and recyclability, this innovation aims to deliver the next generation of solid oxide electrolysers.

Expected outcomes

  • 01Higher efficiency
  • 02Improved durability
  • 03Less critical raw materials
  • 04Lower levelised cost of hydrogen (LCOH)

Methodology · 8 work packages · 48 months

From material to validated stack

Eight coordinated work packages take ThunderStack from new materials to a validated stack.

  1. WP1

    Conceptual design

    Project specifications and the first material and cell tests.

  2. WP2

    Cell characterisation

    Stress testing and modelling of cell behaviour under AC:DC operation.

  3. WP3

    Short stack concept

    80 cm² cells, the short stack design and recycling of raw materials.

  4. WP4

    AC:DC operation

    Operation strategies, service tests and degradation studies on short stacks.

  5. WP5

    Future SOEL technologies

    Cells, stacks and BoP components, improvements and impact assessment.

  6. WP6

    Validation

    Testing of stacks and BoP components in relevant conditions.

  7. WP7

    Project management

    Administrative and technical coordination of the consortium.

  8. WP8

    Impact

    Stakeholder engagement, communication, standardisation and commercialisation.

See the work packages and timeline

Consortium

Six partners, five countries

Meet the consortium
  • Tampere University (coordinator)
  • Technical University of Denmark
  • SolydEra
  • DynElectro
  • EPFL
  • Leitat

Get in touch

Interested in ThunderStack?

Contact the project thunderstack@tuni.fi