Doosan’s SOFC Pivot: 50 MW Ceres Factory, Hy Axiom’s 9.6 MW US Project & Competition with Bloom Energy (2025)

Dual Technology Adoption, Doosan’s SOFC Pivot and Hy Axiom’s PAFC Deployment (2025)

In 2025, the Doosan group is executing a deliberate dual-technology strategy to capture distinct segments of the global fuel cell market, creating a clear operational division between its parent company and its US subsidiary. While Doosan Fuel Cell initiated mass production of high-efficiency Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) in South Korea, its US-based subsidiary Hy Axiom focused exclusively on deploying its commercially mature Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC) technology in the American stationary power market. This bifurcated approach allows the group to generate revenue from proven PAFC systems while simultaneously investing in the commercialization of next-generation SOFC technology to compete in high-growth sectors like data centers.

Hy Axiom’s PAFC Commercial Success

Hy Axiom is capitalizing on the bankability of its PAFC technology to secure and deliver multi-megawatt projects in the US, reinforcing its position in the decentralized power generation market. The company’s 2025 activities demonstrate a focus on executing existing contracts and building a pipeline of reliable, grid-independent power projects.

• In 2025, Hy Axiom advanced significant commercial projects, including a landmark 9.6 MW, 21-unit installation in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and a $5 million, 11-unit facility in Stratford. These projects highlight PAFC’s role in providing combined heat and power (CHP) for microgrids and commercial facilities.
• This contrasts with the 2021-2024 period, which was characterized by securing these project approvals and finalizing partnerships, laying the groundwork for the deployment phase now underway.
• The continued focus on PAFC in the US market indicates a strategic decision to use the mature, lower-risk technology as a stable revenue source while the parent company undertakes the higher-risk, higher-reward commercialization of SOFC.

Doosan’s Strategic SOFC Launch

While Hy Axiom expands its PAFC footprint, parent company Doosan Fuel Cell made its most significant strategic move in July 2025 by commencing mass production of its new SOFC systems. This pivot targets the lucrative global market for high-efficiency power generation, placing Doosan in direct competition with established SOFC leaders.

• Doosan’s new South Korean factory has an initial annual production capacity of 50 MW and leverages technology licensed from UK-based Ceres Power. This marks a critical transition from R&D and pilot stages during 2021-2024 to full commercial production.
• The SOFC systems boast a high electrical efficiency of 54.3% and are explicitly targeted at power-intensive applications, including the AI and data center market, a sector where competitor Bloom Energy has a significant foothold.
• Doosan anticipates the first commercial sales of its SOFC products by the end of 2025, a critical milestone that will validate its substantial capital investment and strategic pivot toward the next generation of fuel cell technology.

Partnership Data, Doosan & Hy Axiom 6 Key Partnerships for SOFC and PAFC (2025)

The 2025 partnership activity across the Doosan group reveals a highly structured, two-track strategy for technology development and market access. Doosan Fuel Cell forged alliances to secure its SOFC supply chain and develop integrated energy solutions in Korea, while Hy Axiom focused on project-specific collaborations to facilitate the deployment of its PAFC units in the US.

Doosan’s SOFC Technology and Supply Chain Alliances

Doosan Fuel Cell’s partnerships in 2025 were primarily aimed at de-risking its SOFC manufacturing scale-up and creating a domestic market for the new technology. These collaborations focus on the foundational elements of production and complex energy systems integration.

• The most critical partnership is with Ceres Power, whose licensed technology is the basis for Doosan’s SOFC production that started in July 2025. This long-term alliance moved from a development to a commercial phase this year.
• To secure its manufacturing line, Doosan Fuel Cell placed a mass production order with materials supplier Alleima in January 2025, ensuring a stable supply of critical components ahead of the factory launch.
• Later in the year, Doosan partnered with SK Ecoplant and HD Hyundai to develop integrated, low-carbon energy solutions, signaling a focus on creating domestic demand for its SOFCs in applications like data centers and distributed power.

Hy Axiom’s US Project Deployment Partnerships

In contrast to its parent company, Hy Axiom’s partnerships in 2025 were tactical and project-focused, aimed at bringing its PAFC installations online. These collaborations involve developers, financiers, and industrial end-users.

• For its 9.6 MW Bridgeport project, Hy Axiom partnered with Scale Microgrid, Nu Power, and C.E. Floyd. This consortium brings together expertise in financing, development, and construction, demonstrating the collaborative model needed to execute large fuel cell projects.
• A collaboration with Kern Energy and Claire Technologies at the Bakersfield Refinery announced in February 2025 showcases Hy Axiom’s strategy to apply its PAFC technology for industrial decarbonization and hydrogen utilization.
• These US-based, deployment-focused partnerships differ from the 2021-2024 period, which likely involved more foundational MOU signings rather than active project execution with multiple specialized partners.

Table: Doosan Group 2025 Strategic Fuel Cell Partnerships

Technology Maturity, Hy Axiom’s PAFC Scale vs. Doosan’s SOFC Launch

The Doosan group’s 2025 strategy operates at two distinct points on the technology readiness level (TRL) scale, creating both a stable revenue base and a path to future growth. Hy Axiom is executing at the highest level of commercial maturity with its PAFC systems, while Doosan Fuel Cell is navigating the critical step of moving its SOFC technology from development to at-scale manufacturing. This divergence in maturity defines the group’s risk profile and competitive posture.

• PAFC (Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell): This technology is fully commercialized and bankable. Hy Axiom’s ability to deploy multi-megawatt projects like the 9.6 MW facility in Connecticut in 2025 confirms its status as a mature, reliable solution for stationary power. Its development history, stretching back decades, provides a long track record that de-risks projects for financiers and customers.
• SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell): Doosan’s SOFC is at the initial commercialization stage. The July 2025 launch of the 50 MW factory marked the transition from pilot to industrial scale. While the technology promises higher efficiency (54.3%), its commercial viability at scale is not yet proven and faces intense competition from established players like Bloom Energy, which has already deployed over 400 MW at data centers.
• Mobility (PEM Fuel Cell): The group’s entry into mobility through Hy Axiom Motors, planning to launch hydrogen buses in Korea in 2025, represents a third front. This initiative, likely using Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology, is in an even earlier commercial stage for the company, targeting a market projected to grow substantially but currently nascent.

Scenario Modelling, Doosan’s SOFC Data Center Sales in 2025

The most critical validation point for the Doosan group’s entire fuel cell strategy through the end of 2025 and into 2026 will be its ability to secure a significant, named commercial order for its newly manufactured SOFC systems from a data center operator. The success or failure of this objective will serve as a primary indicator of the company’s ability to compete with established market leaders and justify its substantial capital investment in the new technology.

• If this happens: Watch for announcements of pilot projects or initial orders from Korean or international data center companies like Microsoft, AWS, or others entering the Korean market. A successful sale would validate Doosan’s technology and manufacturing strategy.
• This could be happening: A confirmed SOFC sale to a data center client would signal that Doosan’s efficiency and cost profile are competitive with incumbents like Bloom Energy, potentially disrupting the market and validating the Ceres-based technology.
• If this does not happen: Watch for Doosan to announce sales to other sectors, such as industrial CHP or marine applications. A lack of data center traction may indicate that the product is not yet competitive on the key metrics of reliability, cost, and power density required by hyperscalers like those using Schneider.
• This could be happening: An absence of data center orders by Q 1 2026 could suggest that the sales cycle is longer than anticipated, or that competitors have locked in key customers, forcing Doosan to revise its market-entry strategy or target less contested segments.

The questions your competitors are already asking

This report covers one angle of Doosan’s dual-technology fuel cell strategy. The questions that matter most depend on your work.

• Bloom Energy data center deployments 2025
• Ceres Power technology partners and deals
• cost comparison phosphoric acid versus solid oxide fuel cells
• South Korea hydrogen bus market size and forecast

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