Wärtsilä has entered into a co-operation agreement with the Danish technology company Haldor Topsøe A/S to start a joint development programme within the area of fuel cell technology. The development programme aims to bring to the market highly efficient, clean and cost competitive fuel cell products with power outputs above 200 kW for distributed power generation and marine applications.

An SOFC is a solid state fuel cell constructed of ceramic materials and metals operating at intermediate to high temperatures (650-1000 °C). The solid state construction offers a number of advantages and the high operation temperature makes it inherently more fuel flexible than other fuel cell types. SOFC is emerging as a potential breakthrough technology for low cost clean and highly efficient production of electricity and heat. System flexibility, high overall efficiency and low emission make the SOFC technology very attractive in relation to the global trend of decentralised production of electricity. The programme combines the competence of both companies. Wärtsilä will apply its know-how in decentralised power plant applications and marine propulsion systems. Haldor Topsøe has long experience and a leading position in catalyst development for oil industry and in development of planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology.