From engineering to test benches and the manufacture of components, Celectis works in the field of fuel cells, electrolysis and all related activities involving the production and use of hydrogen.
Context
Provide clean energy solutions to enable an emission-free society – that’s the mission of this young start-up, founded in 2022 in Sion. While it may be young, however, it is no novice in the field, since it can draw on the over forty years of accumulated expertise of its two co-founders. Celectis operates and is developing the Fuel Cell Pre-Industrial Technology Platform in Valais. This test infrastructure is a valuable tool for players in the hydrogen sector to develop prototypes, test benches and energy systems, and speed up the large-scale production of their developments. The company also provides engineering services in the fields of hydrogen and fuel cells, with the aim of supplying integrators with optimised, made-to-measure components for highly energy-efficient systems that emit no greenhouse gases.
Technology
The test benches developed by Celectis can be used to test fuel cells and power-to-gas or gas-to-power systems. The start-up also plans to supply systems for harnessing agricultural biomass using SOFC/SOEC technology, as well as syngas production, and seasonal energy storage in the form of hydrogen or methane. For components, Celectis uses 3D metal printing to optimise geometries and produce parts (heat exchangers, ejectors and reactors) that are much more efficient and lighter, and take up less space. Because they are made from a single piece, they are also safer to use.
Maturity
A prototype AEM electrolyser for the production of low-carbon hydrogen, using 3D metal printing, is in the test phase, as are prototypes and pilots of heat exchangers and components for high-temperature cells and electrolysers. In collaboration with Metacon AB and Elcogen AS, the company has also developed a 12kW SOFC pilot system that runs on bioethanol. It is being tested as part of the development of charging units for electric vehicles by the company WattAnyWhere. Celectis has won several awards and has filed a number of R&D projects, including several European projects, among which is a highly promising one for making farms energy independent while reducing their ecological footprint.
« Thanks to substantial financial support from the canton of Valais, Celectis is growing rapidly and building up a test platform that is unique in Switzerland for developing and marketing SOFC/SOEC/rSOC systems.» – Steve Joris, CEO of Celectis
**This profile is taken from the 2nd edition of the Cleantech Startup Overview, published in 2024. Read the full report here.
