Recently, the pilot production line for solid oxide fuel cells from Zhongzi Technology was completed and put into operation in Chengdu High tech Zone. It is reported that the annual production capacity of this production line can reach 20000 pieces, and various specifications of battery products such as 10 × 10cm, 12 × 12cm, and 16 × 12cm have been successfully produced. In terms of production line design, space has been reserved to further increase production capacity to an annual output of 200000 pieces, laying the foundation for future large-scale production and further promoting Chengdu to become a solid oxide fuel cell industry base in China.

What is Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)? Simply put, SOFC is a 'power plant': it directly converts chemical energy into electrical energy by continuously inputting fuel and oxidizer. A regular battery is an "energy storage tank": it stores chemical energy inside, converts it into electrical energy when discharged, and needs to be charged (to convert electrical energy back into chemical energy) or discarded after being used up.

Solid oxide fuel cells have outstanding advantages such as high power generation efficiency, zero emissions, and easy utilization of exhaust heat. They are known as efficient and stable clean power generation technologies and can be widely used in fixed power generation, combined heat and power generation, and other scenarios. They play an important role in promoting the development of efficient, low-carbon, and distributed energy.

Taking the application of AI data center as an example, the power generation efficiency and cogeneration efficiency of SOFC technology far exceed traditional power generation technology, which meets the energy needs of data centers. The International Energy Agency predicts that global data center electricity consumption will double by 2030. Industry leader Bloom Energy has successfully applied SOFC to the backup power supply field of data centers and verified its reliability in this scenario.

At present, the SOFC industry is at a critical point of industrialization, and the domestic SOFC industry chain is showing a pattern of "multi-point flowering". Multiple core listed companies and technology innovation enterprises are orderly laying out. In Chengdu, Minshan Green Hydrogen has built the first high-performance solid oxide fuel cell stack demonstration line in China.

It is reported that the R&D team of Zhongzi Technology has undergone nearly five years of continuous technological research and development, and the battery cell technology has reached the advanced level in China. The latest verification results indicate that the key durability indicator of the product - battery cell performance degradation of less than 0.5%/1000 hours, has improved the product's service life and meets the requirements for initial promotion and application. At present, the company is working with multiple downstream customers to accelerate the matching and verification of battery cells in stacks or systems, comprehensively collecting empirical operational data, and providing support for subsequent large-scale production and terminal applications.

 
Chengdu Daily Jinguan News reporter Wu Qian, interviewee provided pictures, responsible editor Liu Chunchun, editor Dai Aicen, reviewed by Wang Yu