Haldor Topsoe generates carbon monoxide from CO₂, but the technology is unlikely to witness widespread commercial adoption

January 07, 2019 | Case Study

Haldor Topsoe is one of the world's leading companies in heterogeneous catalysis and has a significant footprint in the chemicals industry. In the early 2000s, Haldor Topsoe launched Topsoe Fuel Cell, a subsidiary formed to develop and commercialize solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology for electricity production. In 2014, Haldor Topsoe announced the closure of its fuel cell subsidiary, citing challenging market conditions, despite investing over $230 million in R&D. However, the company did not get rid of the SOFC technology; instead, it adapted the technology for solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) applications and launched its first commercial product, called eCOs, in 2016.