SK Ecoplant Partner Bloom Energy Enters German Energy Market for the First Time

Supply of Heat-Supplying SOFC Solutions to German EnBW Subsidiary
Accelerating SOFC Expansion in European Market
Completed Supply to Over 700 Locations Worldwide

Bloom Energy, which has maintained a strategic partnership with SK ecoplant since 2018, has entered the German energy market for the first time.

On the 21st, SK ecoplant announced that Bloom Energy recently signed a supply contract for heat-supplying solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) that simultaneously produce heat and electricity with EnBW’s subsidiary located in Bruchsal, southern Germany. This marks the first time Bloom Energy has exported SOFCs to Germany.

EnBW is one of the leading energy companies representing Germany and Europe, providing energy infrastructure and electricity-related services to approximately 5.5 million customers worldwide.

This order is significant as it applies Bloom Energy’s ‘heat-supplying SOFC.’ Utilizing the basic characteristic of SOFCs operating at high temperatures, it recovers heat above 350°C, a byproduct of power generation, and uses it for △steam production △hot water supply △heating, among other applications. By combining world-class power generation efficiency with high-temperature heat efficiency, it achieves a comprehensive efficiency exceeding 90%.

The expansion of SOFCs in the European market is expected to accelerate further. Recently, Bloom Energy signed SOFC supply contracts with Italy’s automobile manufacturer Ferrari, UK oil company Perenco, and Latvian energy service company Elugie. Efforts to penetrate the Iberian Peninsula, including Portugal and Spain, are also underway.

Notably, Bloom Energy counts over 100 leading global companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft as customers. SOFCs installed by Bloom Energy number over 700 locations worldwide. According to the ‘Stationary Fuel Cell Growth Outlook’ report published in June by global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, Bloom Energy ranked first globally with a 44% market share among stationary fuel cell companies.

Lee Wang-jae, head of SK ecoplant’s Eco Energy BU, stated, “SOFCs, equipped with world-class high-efficiency power generation technology, are the trend in the global fuel cell market. SK ecoplant will lead not only the domestic hydrogen industry and related technological advancements but also exports, based on a solid partnership with Bloom Energy.”