On August 19, 2026, Sunfire and BASF InfraService & Solutions Lausitz broke ground for a test facility for green hydrogen production. At the Schwarzheide site, Sunfire plans to test its most powerful generation of solid oxide electrolysers (Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell, SOEC) in an industrial environment. The project is intended to represent the final step before the implementation of the first commercial applications of the new product generation.
High Efficiency through Waste Heat Utilization
The SOEC technology operates at high temperatures and uses available industrial waste heat for hydrogen production. According to the company, the third generation of Sunfire electrolysers achieves an expected efficiency of up to 89 percent (LHV, AC). An efficiency of 84 percent (LHV, AC) was already demonstrated in 2022 in the EU-funded project GrInHy2.0 with the first generation. The technology aims to reduce the production costs for green hydrogen and synthesis gas.
“The SOEC technology has the potential to become a further key technology for the decarbonization of industry,” says Nils Aldag, CEO of Sunfire. “As the world market leader in SOEC, we are significantly shaping this development. With the test facility at the BASF site in Schwarzheide, we are consistently implementing our SOEC strategy and further advancing the commercialization of the technology.”
Christian von Olshausen, CTO of Sunfire, provides a technical assessment of the project: “With validation under real industrial conditions, we are completing the final steps before implementing the first commercial applications.” Sunfire builds on experiences from previous industrial demonstration projects and aims to gain additional insights for scaling through practical long-term tests.
Location Advantages in Lausitz
The Lausitz Industrial Park in Schwarzheide is operated by BASF InfraService & Solutions Lausitz and employs more than 900 people according to its own information. It offers site services and infrastructure for companies from the chemical and industrial sectors. According to the operator, in addition to the infrastructure and industrial environment, the speed of implementation was the decisive factor for the location.
“With Sunfire, we have gained a true industry leader and international technology leader for the future hydrogen market for the Lausitz Industrial Park,” says Jürgen Fuchs, Chairman of the Management Board of BASF InfraService & Solutions Lausitz. According to him, the prerequisites for the grid connection of the test facility were created in a short time.
Sunfire Relies on Two Electrolysis Technologies
Sunfire, based in Dresden, develops and produces industrial electrolysers based on both pressure-alkaline technology (AEL) and solid oxide technology (SOEC). According to the company, pressure-alkaline electrolysers are already being used in large industrial projects in Europe. The company employs more than 700 people in Germany. According to its own information, Sunfire has implemented the most industrial demonstration projects worldwide in SOEC development.
