As industries worldwide intensify efforts to decarbonize energy-intensive operations, the demand for highly efficient green hydrogen production technologies continues to grow. Hydrogen is increasingly viewed as a critical enabler of the energy transition, supporting the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors including refining, chemicals, ammonia, steel manufacturing, synthetic fuels, and heavy industry. To address these requirements, Topsoe is advancing industrial-scale hydrogen production through its Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) technology, a high-temperature electrolysis platform engineered to maximize energy efficiency while supporting large-scale renewable hydrogen deployment.
Unlike conventional alkaline and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers that rely entirely on electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, Topsoe's SOEC technology utilizes both renewable electricity and high-temperature steam. By introducing thermal energy directly into the electrolysis process, the system significantly reduces electrical energy consumption, enabling higher overall conversion efficiencies and improved hydrogen production economics.
The technology relies on a solid oxide electrolysis stack operating at temperatures typically between 700°C and 850°C. Within the stack, steam is supplied to the cathode side, where electrochemical reduction converts water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen ions. These oxygen ions migrate through a dense ceramic electrolyte to the anode, where oxygen is released. Because a substantial portion of the required reaction energy is supplied as heat rather than electricity, SOEC systems can achieve significantly higher electrical efficiencies compared with low-temperature electrolysis technologies.
A key advantage of Topsoe's SOEC platform is its ability to leverage industrial waste heat and process heat streams. Many industrial facilities—including refineries, ammonia plants, chemical complexes, and steel manufacturing operations—generate large quantities of high-temperature thermal energy that can be integrated into the electrolysis process. This capability enables improved system efficiency while reducing overall operating costs, making SOEC particularly attractive for large-scale industrial hydrogen production facilities.
The technology is also positioned as a critical building block for Power-to-X applications. Green hydrogen generated through SOEC systems can be utilized directly as an industrial feedstock or further converted into renewable ammonia, e-methanol, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and other synthetic fuels. As governments and industries pursue carbon-neutral energy pathways, these renewable molecules are expected to play an increasingly important role in replacing fossil-based feedstocks and fuels across transportation and industrial sectors.
Topsoe's SOEC architecture has been developed with industrial scalability in mind. The company is focusing on modular system configurations capable of supporting large hydrogen production capacities ranging from industrial facilities to future gigawatt-scale hydrogen hubs. The modular design approach simplifies deployment while enabling project developers to scale production according to regional energy demand and renewable electricity availability.
Another important technical benefit of SOEC technology is its potential to improve overall renewable energy utilization. As wind and solar generation continue to expand globally, periods of surplus renewable electricity are becoming increasingly common. High-efficiency electrolysis technologies can convert excess renewable power into hydrogen, creating a flexible energy carrier that can be stored, transported, and utilized across multiple industrial sectors. This capability strengthens the role of hydrogen as both an industrial feedstock and a long-duration energy storage medium.
Beyond electrolyzer hardware, Topsoe combines its expertise in catalysis, process engineering, and industrial-scale energy systems to deliver integrated hydrogen and Power-to-X solutions. The company supports customers throughout the project lifecycle, including system design, process optimization, plant integration, and large-scale deployment of renewable hydrogen infrastructure.
As the global energy transition accelerates, electrolyzer efficiency is becoming one of the most important factors influencing the economics of green hydrogen production. By combining high-temperature electrolysis, industrial heat integration, and scalable system architectures, Topsoe's SOEC technology is designed to reduce energy consumption, improve hydrogen production efficiency, and support the next generation of industrial decarbonization projects worldwide.
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About Topsoe
Topsoe is a global leader in carbon reduction technologies and industrial process solutions. Headquartered in Denmark, the company develops technologies for green hydrogen, renewable fuels, ammonia production, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Power-to-X systems, refining, and industrial decarbonization. Through its expertise in catalysis, electrolysis, and chemical process engineering, Topsoe supports industries and energy providers in accelerating the transition toward a low-carbon and sustainable energy future.
