Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Top 10 Projects & Companies in 2025 and 2024

The Quiet Revolution: How Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology is Powering the Future

Imagine the silent, steady hum of a power source that keeps a sprawling data center online, 24/7, without a grid connection. Picture a massive cruise ship gliding through the ocean, its auxiliary power generated with remarkable efficiency and lower emissions. These aren’t scenes from a distant future; they are happening now. The common thread weaving through these advancements is a versatile and powerful clean technology: the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Once confined to research labs, SOFC technology is now being deployed at a breathtaking scale, tackling some of the toughest decarbonization challenges across industries. From providing reliable power for our digital world to enabling the production of green hydrogen, recent projects in 2024 and 2025 reveal a technology that has truly come of age.

Recent Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Deployments and Projects

The global momentum behind SOFC technology is best illustrated by the sheer scale and diversity of recent projects. These initiatives span utility-scale power generation, industrial manufacturing, and critical applications in transportation and green hydrogen production, signaling a major inflection point for the industry.

1. Bloom Energy and SK Eternix Partner for World’s Largest Fuel Cell Installation Bloom Energy, SK Eternix

Company: Bloom Energy
Installation Capacity: 80 MW
Applications: Powering two ecoparks in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea.
Source: Bloom Energy Announces World’s Largest Fuel Cell Installation in …

2. AEP Orders up to 1 GW in Fuel Cells to Meet Data Center Demand Bloom Energy, AEP

Company: AEP
Installation Capacity: Up to 1 GW over the coming decade
Applications: Powering data centers.
Source: AEP Orders up to 1 GW in Fuel Cells to Meet Data Center Demand

3. Elcogen Expands Manufacturing Capacity to 360 MW Elcogen

Company: Elcogen
Installation Capacity: Expanding manufacturing capacity from 10 MW to 360 MW.
Applications: Not specified, but Elcogen produces SOFCs and SOECs for various applications.
Source: Elcogen’s new production facility to expand manufacturing capacity to 360 MW

4. SolydEra and Dynelectro Partner on 1 MW Solid Oxide Electrolyser SolydEra, Dynelectro

Company: SolydEra and Dynelectro
Installation Capacity: 1 MW
Applications: Supporting green hydrogen and ammonia production.
Source: Italy and Denmark Companies Partner on 1 MW Solid Oxide …

5. Italian Scientists Develop 1 kW SOFC Cogenerator for Residential Use

Company: Unspecified Italian Research Team
Installation Capacity: 1 kW
Applications: Cogeneration for residential buildings.
Source: Italian scientists show technical feasibility of solid oxide fuel cells in …

6. MOL to Install Low-GHG SOFC on LNG Carrier MOL, Samsung Heavy Industries

Company: MOL (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines)
Installation Capacity: Not specified, demonstration project.
Applications: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from LNG carriers.
Source: Low-GHG Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) to Be Installed on LNG Carrier

7. FuelCell Energy and KHNP to Pursue Clean Hydrogen Production FuelCell Energy, KHNP

Company: FuelCell Energy and KHNP (Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power)
Installation Capacity: Not specified
Applications: Clean hydrogen production projects in Korea, utilizing SOEC technology.
Source: FuelCell Energy and KHNP to Pursue Clean Hydrogen Production …

8. Alleima to Provide Components for Doosan SOFC Mass Production Doosan, Alleima

Company: Doosan
Installation Capacity: Not specified
Applications: Mass production of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), component supply.
Source: Industry News | Hydrogen Technology Expo North America 2027

9. Elcogen Secures €24.9M Grant for Green Hydrogen Production Elcogen

Company: Elcogen
Installation Capacity: Not specified
Applications: Scaling up SOEC and SOFC production and advancing green hydrogen in Europe.
Source: Elcogen Secures €24.9M Grant for Green Hydrogen Production

10. Bloom Energy Deploys 150-kW SOFC System on MSC World Europa Cruise Ship Bloom Energy, MSC

Company: Bloom Energy, MSC
Installation Capacity: 150 kW
Applications: Powering MSC World Europa cruise ships, initially using liquefied natural gas as a fuel.
Source: [PDF] Hydrogen Applications for Energy Transition in Port and Airport …

Table: Summary of Recent SOFC Projects (2024-2025)

From Data Centers to Deep Sea: SOFC’s Application Renaissance

The sheer breadth of applications reveals that SOFC technology is no longer a niche solution. We are witnessing its adoption as a foundational tool for decarbonization across vastly different sectors. At one end of the spectrum, AEP’s landmark order for up to 1 GW of fuel cells to power data centers signifies SOFC’s entry into the critical infrastructure market, where reliability and clean, on-site power are paramount. At the other end, the 1 kW residential prototype from Italian scientists shows potential for decentralized, high-efficiency home energy. This incredible scalability—from kilowatts to gigawatts—is a unique strategic advantage. Furthermore, the technology is proving its mettle in hard-to-abate sectors. The deployment of SOFCs on an MSC cruise ship and an MOL LNG carrier demonstrates a viable pathway to reducing emissions in the maritime industry. This is not just about power generation; it’s about system-level change. The partnerships focused on Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells (SOEC)—the reverse application of SOFCs—for green hydrogen and ammonia production (SolydEra/Dynelectro and FuelCell Energy/KHNP) show the technology’s dual role in the energy transition, both as a consumer of fuel and a producer of clean fuel.

The Global SOFC Power Play: Asia and Europe Take the Lead

Geographic trends in these deployments offer a clear narrative of regional priorities. South Korea has firmly established itself as a global leader in SOFC adoption. The 80 MW Bloom Energy project is the world’s largest of its kind, and strategic partnerships like those between FuelCell Energy and KHNP for hydrogen production, and Doosan’s push for mass production, underscore a concerted national strategy. This aggressive deployment is likely driven by a need for energy independence and a desire to lead in next-generation energy technologies. Meanwhile, Europe is heavily focused on building a robust domestic supply chain, particularly for the green hydrogen economy. Elcogen’s expansion to 360 MW of manufacturing capacity in Estonia, supported by a significant EU Innovation Fund grant, is a prime example. This, combined with cross-border collaborations like the Italy-Denmark partnership on a 1 MW electrolyzer, indicates that Europe sees SOEC/SOFC technology as critical to achieving its ambitious REPowerEU goals. While the U.S. is represented by major commercial deals like the AEP order, the current landscape shows Asia leading in large-scale deployment and Europe leading in strategic manufacturing and hydrogen-focused initiatives.

Beyond the Lab: SOFC’s Leap to Commercial Scale

These projects collectively signal that SOFC technology is rapidly moving across the maturity spectrum from demonstration to full-scale commercialization. The multi-megawatt and even gigawatt-scale commitments from Bloom Energy and AEP are irrefutable evidence of commercial bankability. This is technology that corporate leaders and utilities trust for mission-critical operations. Simultaneously, the technology is still being proven in new, demanding environments. The maritime projects with MOL and MSC are high-profile demonstrations designed to validate SOFC performance and reliability at sea, paving the way for wider adoption in shipping. We also see a maturing supply chain, with companies like Elcogen dramatically scaling up manufacturing and Alleima supplying critical components for Doosan’s mass production lines. This transition from bespoke units to mass manufacturing is essential for reducing costs and meeting surging demand. The pivot to SOEC for hydrogen production by players like SolydEra and FuelCell Energy shows the technology is not static; it is evolving to meet new market needs, particularly the enormous demand for efficient green hydrogen production.

The Solid Oxide Horizon: Powering the Next Wave of Decarbonization

Looking ahead, the trajectory for solid oxide technology is clear: rapid growth fueled by its unique combination of high efficiency, fuel flexibility, and application versatility. These recent installations are not isolated successes but markers of three powerful, emerging trends. First, the nexus between data centers and SOFCs will be a dominant growth engine. The energy appetite of AI and cloud computing is insatiable, and SOFCs offer a clean, reliable, and grid-independent power solution that is perfectly matched to this need. Second, solid oxide electrolyzers (SOECs) are poised to become a leading technology for producing low-cost green hydrogen, placing them at the heart of the future hydrogen economy. The high operating temperature of SOECs makes them significantly more efficient than other electrolysis methods. Finally, the fuel flexibility demonstrated on the MSC cruise ship—starting with LNG with a pathway to green hydrogen or ammonia—is a critical de-risking feature for long-lived assets, allowing industries to decarbonize in stages. In summary, solid oxide technology has transcended its “emerging” label to become a cornerstone technology, ready to power the next, more challenging phase of the global energy transition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the main industries using SOFC technology today?
Based on the recent projects, SOFC technology is being deployed across several key sectors. These include powering large-scale data centers, providing auxiliary power for maritime shipping (cruise ships and LNG carriers), utility-scale power generation for ecoparks, and producing green hydrogen and ammonia for industrial use. There is also development for smaller-scale residential energy cogeneration.

Which regions are leading in the adoption of solid oxide fuel cells?
The article highlights that Asia and Europe are at the forefront of SOFC adoption. South Korea, in particular, is a leader in large-scale deployment, hosting the world’s largest fuel cell installation. Europe is focused on building a strategic manufacturing supply chain, especially for green hydrogen production, with companies like Elcogen significantly expanding their capacity with EU support.

How is SOFC technology being used to produce green hydrogen?
The technology is used in its reverse application, known as a Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC). Instead of consuming fuel to create electricity, an SOEC uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen with very high efficiency. Projects by companies like SolydEra, Dynelectro, and FuelCell Energy are focused on using SOEC technology to produce clean hydrogen for the energy transition.

Is SOFC technology scalable? Can it be used for both large and small applications?
Yes, the article emphasizes the incredible scalability of SOFC technology. It ranges from gigawatt-scale commitments, like AEP’s plan to power data centers, and multi-megawatt utility projects down to a 150 kW system on a cruise ship and even a 1 kW prototype for residential use. This versatility from kilowatts to gigawatts is a key strategic advantage.

Is this technology commercially ready or still in the experimental stage?
The article argues that SOFC technology has moved from demonstration to full-scale commercialization. Large commercial deals, such as the 80 MW installation in South Korea and the 1 GW order for AEP’s data centers, serve as evidence that the technology is considered reliable and bankable for mission-critical operations. While demonstration projects in new environments like shipping are ongoing, the core technology is mature and being mass-produced.