On February 18, 2023, Weichai released the world's first high-power metal-supported commercial SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) product. The cogeneration efficiency of this product is up to 92.55%, which sets the world record for high power SOFC cogeneration system efficiency.

At the conference, Tan Xuguang, director of the National Key Laboratory of Internal Combustion Engine and Power System, introduced the technology and application of Weichai SOFC products. TUV Sud, an international authoritative testing institution, issued EU CE certification to Weichai, and the efficiency of cogeneration reached 92.55%. Ling Wen, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Shandong Association for Science and Technology, made a speech. Experts such as Su Wanhua, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Liu Weimin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shu Gequn, Party secretary of the University of Science and Technology of China, witnessed the historic moment.

Core innovation breaks the world's efficiency limits

As a new generation of fuel cells, SOFC is a power generation device that directly converts the chemical energy of fuel into electric energy with high efficiency, low carbon and environmental protection at medium high temperature. It is currently the new energy technology route with the highest power generation efficiency worldwide. Its power generation efficiency can reach more than 60% and cogeneration efficiency can reach more than 85%. At the same time, it also has the advantages of flexible fuel, green and low-carbon, and no use of precious metals. It can use natural gas, hydrogen, coal-to-gas, biomass gas, methanol and other fuels. Compared with traditional natural gas generating units, SOFCs using natural gas can achieve carbon reduction of more than 30%.

Weichai began to lay out SOFC business in 2018, and made a strategic investment in the world's leading SOFC technology company, Britain-based Helis, and became its largest shareholder. Up to now, a total of 2 billion yuan has been invested, and the two sides have set up a research and development team consisting mainly of 100 doctors. After 5 years of efforts, SOFC technology engineering breakthrough, a comprehensive control of the new generation of SOFC key core technology.

The world's first high-power metal-supported commercial SOFC product released by Weichai this time has a system power of 120kW, supports modular installation, and can extend the power to megawatt level, achieving a major technical breakthrough:

I. Cogeneration efficiency reaches 92.55%, the highest in the world among high-power SOFC systems.

Second, the world takes the lead in the use of the most advanced new generation of metal support SOFC technology, compared with the traditional electrolyte support and anode support technology, has the outstanding advantages of low operating temperature and strong thermal shock resistance, especially to achieve the technical breakthrough from high temperature 800 degrees to 600 degrees, the system can start and stop times are more than 4 times of the international competitive products, The start-up speed is more than 3 times that of international competitors, reaching the international leading level.

Iii. The products have passed the EU CE certification of TUV Sud, an international authoritative testing agency, and completed 39 certification tests.

Two engine drive opens a new chapter in energy in the future

With the deepening of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, the global energy system and development model are undergoing profound changes. In both the "two-carbon" strategy and the 14th Five-Year Plan, China has clearly stated that it will accelerate the development of renewable energy and promote the construction of distributed power generation and micro-grid.

As a leading enterprise in China's equipment manufacturing industry, Weichai adheres to the "dual drive" strategy of traditional energy and new energy. Last year, it successively released the world's first diesel engine with bulk thermal efficiency of 51% and 52%. At the same time, it actively promotes the new energy shift and overtaking, takes the lead in building the national fuel cell technology innovation Center, comprehensively lays out the three major new energy technology routes of power cell, hydrogen fuel cell and solid oxide fuel cell, and achieves the global leadership of core technology and industrialization in the field of hydrogen fuel cell. SOFC is another major strategic layout of Weichai in the diversified development of energy.

The products of Weichai SOFC released this time have the advantages of high efficiency, good reliability, wide fuel adaptability, stable power energy output and other advantages. They are suitable for industrial parks, buildings, data centers and other scenarios. They can provide green and low-carbon solutions for distributed energy and micro-grid, and are a subversive new energy technology route that will be widely used in the future.

Weichai SOFC products have been demonstrated in Weichai Fuel Cell Industrial Park and Weifang Energy Group, with cumulative operation of more than 30,000 hours, achieving a phased breakthrough in commercial operation. Weichai SOFC products efficiently supply electric energy and heat energy, greatly reducing energy costs for customers. Yin Bo, deputy general manager of Bintou Distributed Energy Co., LTD., Weifang Energy Group, said: In actual use, Weichai SOFC products run stably, with a net power generation efficiency of more than 60%. One natural gas can generate 6 KWH of electricity, and can adjust according to the peak-valley price, cut peak and fill valley, which has good economic benefits.

According to estimates, when the installed capacity of Weichai SOFC products as distributed energy reaches 1GW, compared with electricity taken from the grid, carbon can be reduced by about 2 million tons per year, and natural gas can be saved by about 600 million cubic meters compared with traditional natural gas internal combustion engine generating units. If biomass gas and green hydrogen are used as fuel, zero carbon emissions can be achieved and the national double carbon target can be achieved. At the same time, as a new solution of distributed energy and microgrid, Weichai SOFC products can not only effectively guarantee the security of power supply, but also provide technology reserves and the strength of subversion of new business forms for the development of Weichai Power in the coming decades. As a disruptive innovation in the global energy field, the large-scale application of SOFC will certainly bring significant economic and social benefits.

Tan Xuguang said that the world's first high-power metal-supported commercial SOFC product was born in Weichai, which is another major innovation achievement of Weichai's scientific and technological workers bearing in mind their trust, daring challenges and bravely reaching the world's scientific and technological peak. Facing the future, we will actively respond to the national energy strategy, promote the energy technology revolution, for China's "double carbon" goal to contribute the Weichai program, Weichai strength!Editor/XuNing