Bloom Energy and SK Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. have successfully deployed 100 kW of solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) powered solely by hydrogen in Ulsan, South Korea, generating zero-carbon onsite electricity.

Bloom Energy first announced its initial plans to enter the commercial hydrogen market in July 2020, which includes an intended 1 MW hydrogen-powered Energy Server installation with SK E&C by 2022.

The SOFCs use hydrogen byproduct generated by SK Advanced to create power without CO₂ emissions. The hydrogen-powered fuel cells are supplied, operated and maintained by Bloom Energy. Upon completion of the pilot project, Bloom Energy’s hydrogen SOFCs will support South Korea’s Changwon RE100 initiative, as well as many other projects. The RE100 is a global renewable energy initiative led by the Climate Group to accelerate the move toward zero-carbon electricity grids. As reported in November 2020, Bloom Energy and SK E&C won a competitive bid for the Changwon RE100 to supply Bloom Energy’s hydrogen-powered SOFCs and hydrogen electrolyzers to an industrial complex there.

In addition, Bloom Energy intends to supply its solid-oxide electrolyzer cells (SOEC), which are designed to produce green hydrogen via solar and battery, to South Korea in 2022 as part of the RE100 project. The green hydrogen produced by the SOEC, which is created through electrolysis by converting water and renewable electricity into hydrogen without carbon emissions, will be used to power the hydrogen SOFC.