Bosch has taken a minority value stake in Horsham-based Ceres Power. The German producer consented to an arrangement with Ceres in January which has now been made open and will contribute an underlying £9m for a 4.4% offer.

United Kingdom: Bosch is squeezing ahead with the improvement of fuel-cell technology for potential new power frameworks. Together with the innovation master Ceres Power, situated in Horsham, U.K., the organization needs to build up the following phase of solid-oxide fuel-cell (SOFC) technology. Bosch additionally plans to take a 4 percent value stake in Ceres Power. A joint effort and permit assertion, for the further advancement of innovation, and establishment of small-volume production operations at Bosch, and an offer buy understanding, were marked by the two organizations on August 20, 2018.

Ceres Power is a main player in the development of next-generation SOFC technology. Its methodology is to market its innovation through large scale manufacturing with partners, and to utilize this innovation for network based and dispersed power generation. The expectation is that SOFC frameworks will be utilized in urban areas, production lines, and server farms, and furthermore as a power supply for charging focuses for electric vehicles.

SOFC technology utilizes an electrochemical response in the power module stack to change over fuel, for example, natural gas or hydrogen into electricity. The natural advantage is significant, with much lower discharges than from power stations that utilization a combustion process.

Bosch believes that the highly efficient fuel cell, with its low discharges, has a vital part to play in vitality frameworks security of supply and adaptability. The Fuel-cell technology will bring the move to alternative energy a step closer, and the company will be working on this with the development partner Ceres Power.

The company also added that the with the increasing urbanization, fuel cell technology will play a critical role to play in preserving power supplies by 2025.

The Ceres Power’s CEO said that the vision for this partnership with Bosch is to set a new mark in the power industry for solid-oxide fuel cells, leading to widespread adoption in distributed power supplies. By combining Ceres’ unique Steel Cell technology with Bosch’s engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain strength the company will establish a strong partnership that can make the technology even more competitive.

According to TechSci Research, the partnership of Bosch and Ceres Power to set new industry standard for solid-oxide fuel cell which will enable sustainable growth of the solid-oxide fuel cell market across the globe. The growing adoption of highly efficient fuel cell, with its very low emissions, has an important role to play in energy systems. Moreover, the large-scale development of SOFC by the companies has enabled the advantages of economies of scale, which is leading to reduction in total cost of development.

According to the recently published report by TechSci Research, “Global Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Market by Type (Planar & Tubular), By Application (Stationary, Transportation & Portable), By Region (APAC, North America, Europe, Rest of World), Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2013-2023”, Global solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) market was valued at around $ 590 million in 2017 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 14% to cross $ 1.3 billion by 2023. Over the last few years, solid oxide fuel cells have been rapidly becoming more economical and efficient to use for commercial as well as residential end use. Moreover, the large-scale development of SOFC by several companies across the globe has enabled the advantages of economies of scale, which is leading to reduction in total cost of development. Additionally, several countries are investing heavily in the research and development of SOFC to address the technical issues hindering the commercialization of SOFC technology. Growing focus towards SOFC technology is expected to have a huge positive impact on the global SOFC market during the forecast period.

According to the recently published report by TechSci Research, “Global Distributed Generation Market, By Technology (Solar PV, Fuel Cells, Reciprocating Engines, Wind, Micro Turbines, Gas Turbines and Others), By Application (On-Grid and Off-Grid), By End-User (Industrial and Commercial), By Company and By Geography, Forecast & Opportunities, 2023”, Global Distributed Generation Market is projected to reach USD 103.42 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of over 11% during 2018-2023 due to increasing mandates to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and rising demand for electricity from the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. Based on technology, global distributed generation market is segmented into reciprocating engines, solar PV, wind, microturbines, fuel cells, and gas turbines. The solar PV is the fastest growing segment due to decreasing costs of solar installations, attractive incentives, and greenhouse gas emission restrictions. Europe & CIS region is expected to dominate the market during 2018-2023, owing to the increasing energy consumption mainly from by the industrial and commercial sectors. Some of the leading players in the distributed generation market include Siemens, Schneider, Mitsubishi, GE etc.