The commissioning of the reversible solid oxide fuel cell (RSOC)—together with the research company Tec4Fuels GmbH—was preceded by an intensive test phase in which Wolf Energetik adapted the operating mode to its own FEREDOX^® technology.

Together with the FEREDOX^® hydrogen (H₂) storage tank, it forms the core element of a pilot plant that Wolf Energetik has been operating in Freiberg since May 2024. This pilot plant has a storage capacity of around 1 MW/hr and it is particularly suitable for decentralized energy storage applications. It could, for example, serve as an interim storage for a photovoltaic system on the roof of a supermarket or an apartment block.

Innovative energy storage concept. "The fuel cell system adapted to the process has been running smoothly so far and is providing us with findings that will help us to further optimize the entire electricity storage process," explains Claudia Hain, Managing Director of Wolf Energetik.

With FEREDOX^® technology, a process for chemical energy storage using H₂ and water vapor, the company has developed an innovative and flexible electricity storage concept with additional benefits.

"The electricity storage concept has a high capacity and particularly good efficiency for decentralized base-load supply with electricity from innovative energy sources," says Oleksandr Siromakha, Head of Sustainable Fuels at Mabanaft. "At the same time, the storage of H₂ with Wolf Energetik's storage concept is particularly safe compared to many other storage methods.”

Other applications for the FEREDOX^® technology include efficient interim storage of H₂ with integration of waste heat, production of synthesis gas, H₂ refueling stations and other transport applications.

Mabanaft funds research into innovative energy storage. As part of a minority investment, Mabanaft is funding the development of innovative electricity storage systems, together with Wolf Energetik. Wolf Energetik plans to build a demonstration plant with a FEREDOX^® storage system with a capacity of about two tonnes of H₂ in 2025. This will be based on Wolf Energetik's recently commissioned pilot plant with a full-scale test reactor.