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.

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, Ceres Power, 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.

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

2. 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.

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

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.