Denso has announced a pilot programme using an SOEC (Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell) to help power its manufacturing operations.

It will begin in July 2023 at Hirose Plant.

The SOEC is a “device that produces green hydrogen through electrolysis of high-temperature steam”.

It uses technology from automotive components, such as thermal management techniques, ceramic technology, and ejector technology which recycles unreacted steam.

The trial will feature a verification test using the green hydrogen in a prototype power card line.

The green hydrogen will replace existing hydrogen to be used as a reducing agent to remove solder oxide and improve joinability.

A line utilising green hydrogen produced by the SOEC will be added to a line that uses externally purchased hydrogen, Denso states it will use both lines “simultaneously to verify the stability of production and examine the impact of green hydrogen produced by the SOEC on the quality of power cards.”