Ceres Power

Last updated
Ceres Power Holdings plc
Company type Public
IndustryAlternative Energy
Founded2001
Headquarters Horsham, England, UK
Key people
Warren Finegold, Chair
Phil Caldwell, CEO
RevenueIncrease2.svg £22.3 million (2023) [1]
Decrease2.svg £(59.4) million (2023) [1]
Decrease2.svg £(54.0) million (2023) [1]
Number of employees
536 (2022) [1]
Website www.ceres.tech

Ceres Power Holdings plc is a UK developer of solid oxide electrolyzer cell [2] and solid oxide fuel cell technology [3] for use in distributed power systems aimed at decarbonising cities, factories, data centres and electric vehicle charging. [4] Founded in 2001, it is headquartered at Horsham in the UK. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is also classified by the LSE Green Economy Mark, [5] which recognises listed companies that derive more than 50% of their activity from the green economy. [6]

Contents

History

In 2001, Ceres Power spun-out from Imperial College London [7] after more than 10 years of fundamental research led by Professor Brian Steele. [8]

In November 2004, Ceres was first listed on the London Stock Exchange. [9]

In September 2013, Phil Caldwell became the CEO of Ceres Power [10] following investment from IP Group. [11]

Technology

Ceres Steel Cell

The Ceres patented Steel Cell is a Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that can operate on mains natural gas for distributed power generation. [12]

The steel cell operates at 500-600 °C which allows the use of cerium gadolinium oxide (CGO) in the anode and electrolyte and the bulk of the fuel cell to be mostly made from ferritic steel. [13]

The technology is reversible. In one direction it can generate electricity from multiple fuels; in the other, it can generate green hydrogen at low cost and high efficiencies. [14]

Hydrogen

The UK Hydrogen Strategy cites UK companies including ITM Power, Johnson Matthey and Ceres as being at the forefront of hydrogen technology development worldwide. [15]

Ceres is an Executive Member of the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association [16] and a founding member of the Long Duration Energy Storage Council. [17]

Business Model

Ceres operates a licensing business model and partners with global industry partners to develop clean energy systems and products. Partners included Bosch, [18] Weichai, [19] Doosan, [20] Miura [21] and Shell. [22]

Awards

In July 2023, Ceres Power was awarded the 2023 MacRobert Award by the Royal Academy of Engineering. [23] This is the UK's most prestigious engineering prize. [24]

In its award citation, the academy recognised Ceres for its "ground-breaking fuel cell technology that promises to make a major contribution to decarbonising the world at the scale and pace required to save the planet." [14]

In 2021 Ceres was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2021 in the category of International Trade. [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrochemical cell</span> Electro-chemical device

An electrochemical cell is a device that generates electrical energy from chemical reactions. Electrical energy can also be applied to these cells to cause chemical reactions to occur. Electrochemical cells that generate an electric current are called voltaic or galvanic cells and those that generate chemical reactions, via electrolysis for example, are called electrolytic cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuel cell</span> Device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidizing agent into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes from substances that are already present in the battery. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied.

Ballard Power Systems Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products for markets such as heavy-duty motive, portable power, material handling as well as engineering services. Ballard has designed and shipped over 400 MW of fuel cell products to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen economy</span> Using hydrogen to decarbonize more sectors

The hydrogen economy is an umbrella term for the roles hydrogen can play alongside low-carbon electricity to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The aim is to reduce emissions where cheaper and more energy-efficient clean solutions are not available. In this context, hydrogen economy encompasses the production of hydrogen and the use of hydrogen in ways that contribute to phasing-out fossil fuels and limiting climate change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuel cell vehicle</span> Vehicle that uses a fuel cell to power its electric motor

A fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor. Fuel cells in vehicles generate electricity generally using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen. Most fuel cell vehicles are classified as zero-emissions vehicles. As compared with internal combustion vehicles, hydrogen vehicles centralize pollutants at the site of the hydrogen production, where hydrogen is typically derived from reformed natural gas. Transporting and storing hydrogen may also create pollutants. Fuel cells have been used in various kinds of vehicles including forklifts, especially in indoor applications where their clean emissions are important to air quality, and in space applications. Fuel cells are being developed and tested in trucks, buses, boats, ships, motorcycles and bicycles, among other kinds of vehicles.

The MacRobert Award is regarded as the leading prize recognising UK innovation in engineering by corporations. The winning team receives a gold medal and a cash sum of £50,000.

Micro combined heat and power, micro-CHP, μCHP or mCHP is an extension of the idea of cogeneration to the single/multi family home or small office building in the range of up to 50 kW. Usual technologies for the production of heat and power in one common process are e.g. internal combustion engines, micro gas turbines, stirling engines or fuel cells.

Doosan Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation. In 2009, the corporation was placed in the Fortune Global 500 index. It is the parent company of Bobcat and Škoda Power. Doosan Group is the oldest running company in South Korea and was ranked as one of the world's top 10 largest heavy equipment manufacturers in 2018.

Hydrogen gas is produced by several industrial methods. Nearly all of the world's current supply of hydrogen is created from fossil fuels. Most hydrogen is gray hydrogen made through steam methane reforming. In this process, hydrogen is produced from a chemical reaction between steam and methane, the main component of natural gas. Producing one tonne of hydrogen through this process emits 6.6–9.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide. When carbon capture and storage is used to remove a large fraction of these emissions, the product is known as blue hydrogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen-powered aircraft</span> Type of airplane

A hydrogen-powered aircraft is an aeroplane that uses hydrogen fuel as a power source. Hydrogen can either be burned in a jet engine or another kind of internal combustion engine, or can be used to power a fuel cell to generate electricity to power an electric propulsor. It cannot be stored in a traditional wet wing, and hydrogen tanks have to be housed in the fuselage or be supported by the wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Scotland</span>

The production of renewable energy in Scotland is a topic that came to the fore in technical, economic, and political terms during the opening years of the 21st century. The natural resource base for renewable energy is high by European, and even global standards, with the most important potential sources being wind, wave, and tide. Renewables generate almost all of Scotland's electricity, mostly from the country's wind power.

Altrad Babcock Ltd is a power sector OEM, construction, upgrade, and after-market services company that offers specialist services and technologies to the fossil-fired power generation, nuclear power generation, and oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. AB's main headquarters are in Crawley, England. European headquarters are in Renfrew, Scotland. The company has manufacturing facilities in the UK, Germany, India, Vietnam and South Korea, and 17 offices around the world.

Weichai Power Co., Ltd. is a Chinese developer and manufacturer of diesel engines in Weifang, Shandong in the People's Republic of China. It also manufactures forklifts and non-diesel engine automotive parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloom Energy Server</span> Solid oxide fuel cell power generator made by Bloom Energy

The Bloom Energy Server or Bloom Box is a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power generator made by Bloom Energy, of Sunnyvale, California, that takes a variety of input fuels, including liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons produced from biological sources, to produce electricity at or near the site where it will be used. It withstands temperatures of up to 1,800 °F (980 °C). According to the company, a single cell generates 25 watts.

AFC Energy PLC is a developer of hydrogen fuel cell technologies which focus on the displacement of diesel generators in stationary and maritime applications. The technology utilises hydrogen fuel for zero emission electricity generation. The company is based in Cranleigh, Surrey, United Kingdom. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ITM Power</span>

ITM Power plc is an energy storage and clean fuel company founded in the UK in 2001. It designs, manufactures, and integrates electrolysers based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology to produce green hydrogen using renewable electricity and tap water. Hydrogen produced via electrolysis is used for mobility, Power-to-X, and industry.

Intelligent Energy is a fuel cell engineering business focused on the development, manufacture and commercialisation of its proton-exchange membrane fuel cell technologies for a range of markets including automotive, stationary power, materials handling equipment and UAVs. Headquartered in the UK with representation in the US, Japan, South Korea, and China.

The World Hydrogen Council is a global CEO-led initiative of 132 leading energy, transport, industry, and investment companies that seeks to develop the hydrogen economy. It claims to accelerate investment in the development and commercialization of the hydrogen and fuel cell sectors and encourage stakeholders to increase their backing of hydrogen as part of the future energy mix.

Green hydrogen (GH2 or GH2) is hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water, using renewable electricity. Production of green hydrogen causes significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than production of grey hydrogen, which is derived from fossil fuels without carbon capture.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Annual Report 2023" (PDF). Ceres Power. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "Ceres MW-scale electrolyser delivers first hydrogen". The Engineer. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Japan aims its home fuel cells at Europe". BBC. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Stationary fuel cell Bosch plans to start full scale production in 2024". Bosch. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "LSE lays down tougher rules for green bond reporting". Financial Times. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Ceres Power awarded green economy mark by the London Stock Exchange". Fuel Cells Works. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Bance, P.; Brandon, N.P.; Girvan, B.; Holbeche, P.; o'Dea, S.; Steele, B.C.H. (14 May 2004). "Spinning-out a fuel cell company from a UK University—2 years of progress at Ceres Power". Journal of Power Sources. 131 (1–2): 86–90. Bibcode:2004JPS...131...86B. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2003.11.077 . Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Professor Brian Steele". The Times. 19 September 2003. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ceres Power arrives on AIM". Investegate. 25 November 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Ceres Power Holdings plc - Appointment of Philip Caldwell as CEO of Ceres Power". IP Group. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ceres Power Holdings PLC – Revised Business Strategy". RNS. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "Ceres: Fuelling doubts or full steam ahead?". Investors' Chronicle. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "The Ceres Cell". Company Website. Ceres Power. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  14. 1 2 "Clean energy technology set to decarbonise the world wins UK's top award for engineering innovation - Ceres Power's pioneering clean energy technology has won the 2023 MacRobert Award". Royal Academy of Engineering. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "UK Hydrogen Strategy" (PDF). HM Government. August 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association". UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "Energy industry leaders sign agreement to create long duration energy storage council". Long Duration Energy Storage Council. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "Bosch to strengthen strategic collaboration with Ceres Power". Bosch. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  19. ↑ "Weichai Power joins hands with Ceres". Weichai Power. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  20. ↑ "Doosan and Ceres Power sign South Korea fuel cell deal". Weichai Power. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  21. ↑ "Ceres Power Holdings - Ceres Power Technology in Miura Co fuel cell product launch in Japan". IP Group. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  22. ↑ "Shell megascale green hydrogen deal". Gasworld. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  23. ↑ "Ceres Power awarded 2023 MacRobert Award". The Engineer. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "Ceres Power wins MacRobert Award for 'spectacular' reversible fuel cell". IMEE Engineering News. Institution of Mechanical Engineers. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  25. ↑ "Ceres Power Holdings PLC Winners of 2021 International Trade". Queens Award Magazine. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
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