Sunfire to Build Electrolysis Test Facility at BASF Site in Schwarzheide
The partnership underscores the growing importance of the Lausitz region as a transforming energy hub and as a location for future technologies
- International technology leader implements hydrogen project at Industriepark Lausitz
- Test facility supports the industrial-scale deployment of green hydrogen
- Partnership strengthens innovation and regional value creation in the Lausitz region
Industriepark Lausitz in Schwarzheide continues its growth trajectory with Sunfire joining the site as a new innovation-driven partner. The Dresden-based hydrogen company will build a test facility at the industrial park to further validate its highly efficient solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology. Commissioning of the facility is planned for the end of this year. The objective is to generate additional operational experience for deployment in large-scale industrial projects.
“With Sunfire, Industriepark Lausitz is gaining a global leader in hydrogen that is actively shaping the energy transition. This decision sends a strong signal for the innovative strength of our site. The test facility strengthens industrial value creation in the region and further enhances our industrial base,” says Jürgen Fuchs, Chairman of the Management Board of BASF InfraService & Solutions Lausitz GmbH.
The partnership underscores the growing importance of the Lausitz region as a transforming energy hub and as a location for future technologies.
“High-temperature electrolysis offers energy-intensive industries significant efficiency advantages in their decarbonization efforts. With the test facility at Industriepark Lausitz, we gain valuable insights under real industrial conditions. The strong infrastructure, available areas, and industrial expertise on site enable practical long-term testing at industrial scale,” explains Christian von Olshausen, CTO of Sunfire.
SOEC technology operates at high temperatures of around 850 degrees Celsius and achieves electrical efficiencies of up to 89% LHV, AC[1]. As a result, Sunfire’s SOEC electrolyzers enable lowest levelized costs of hydrogen (LCOH). As a pioneer in SOEC development, Sunfire has implemented the most industrial demonstration projects worldwide.
[1] Expected efficiency of the 3rd generation of Sunfire’s SOEC electrolyzers. Electrical efficiency of 84 % LHV, AC proven in EU-funded GrInHy2.0 project in 2022 with GEN 1.
The SOEC technology deployed in Schwarzheide has been significantly advanced as part of the flagship project H2Giga, subproject HTEL MODULE, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Building on these research results, the test facility enables long-term industrial validation under real operating conditions and supports technological maturity for large-scale deployment within the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) framework. The European Investment Bank is co-financing the development and industrialization of the innovative SOEC electrolyzers through a loan.
Source: Sunfire SE, press release, 2026-05-11.