At a glance
Sunfire is a global leader for industrial electrolyzers. With our innovative and proven solutions, we are addressing a key challenge of today’s energy system: Providing renewable hydrogen and Syngas as substitutes for fossil energy sources. Our electrolyzers – based on alkaline and solid oxide (SOEC) technologies – enable the transformation of energy-intensive sectors such as the chemical, fuel and steel industries.
Sunfire employs more than 370 people and in Germany and Switzerland. We are backed by leading strategic and financial investors such as Neste and SMS Group – global leaders in renewable fuels and steel. With a well-established partner network, we realize large hydrogen and e-Fuel projects to deliver on our promise: Replacing fossil fuels with renewables in all areas of life – creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
Management Team
Our journey
2022
SERIES D-2 ROUND
€86 million ($97 million)
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Blue Earth Capital are joining as new investors while Carbon Direct Capital Management is expanding its commitment. Sunfire is also entering into a framework agreement with CIP for its alkaline electrolyzers.
2021
MTV NT
Acquisition
Sunfire is acquiring the Solingen branch of MTV NT GmbH. The German electroplating specialist is one of the world leaders in functional surface coating for large components.
Series D round
€109 million ($125 million)
Sunfire secures new funding from a consortium of investors led by Lightrock and Planet First Partners, and including Carbon Direct Capital Management, HydrogenOne Capital, and existing shareholders.
2020
IHT
Alkaline electrolysis acquisition
Sunfire acquires Alkaline electrolysis company IHT with more than 70 years of manufacturing and operating experience.
Norsk e-Fuel
Foundation
Sunfire joins forces with Climeworks, SMS group and Valinor to build the world’s first industrial-size Power-to-Liquids (PtL) plant.
2019
SOEC Electrolyzers
Next generation
Sunfire starts validation of the next generation electrolyzers within the 2nd phase of the German government-funded Kopernikus program “Power-to-X” and the FCH JU-funded MultiPLHY project with Neste.
2018
New Enerday GmbH
Fuel cell acquisition
Sunfire expands fuel cell portfolio and bundles all activities for home micro-CHPs and remote off-grid power solutions in Neubrandenburg, Germany.
2016
SOEC Electrolyzers
Next generation
Sunfire starts validation of the next generation electrolyzers within the FCH-JU-funded steel project GrInHy with Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH and the 1st phase of the German government-funded Kopernikus program “Power-to-X”.
2014
Power-to-Liquid
Demonstration Plant
Sunfire opens the world’s first demonstration plant for Power-to-Liquid in Dresden, producing renewable e-Fuels including diesel, naphtha and waxes.
SOEC Electrolyzers
First generation
Sunfire starts validation of itas first electrolyzer for Boeing.
2012
SOEC Electrolyzers
Prototype
Sunfire starts validation of the first electrolyzer prototype.
2011
Staxera GmbH
Fuel cell acquisition
Sunfire acquires a high temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) company as nucleus for subsequent electrolyzer developments.
2010
Company foundation
The beginning
Nils Aldag, Christian von Olshausen and Carl Berninghausen start out with the vision to commercialize innovative electrolysis solutions to bring renewables everywhere.
An Award-winning company
We have been honored with national and international awards for our innovative SOEC technology. We are proud of our achievements towards a better and cleaner world. And our journey has just begun.
2020
GLOBAL CLEANTECH100
Sunfire was named by Cleantech Group in the prestigious 2020 Global Cleantech 100. The Global Cleantech 100 is an annual guide to the leading companies and themes in sustainable innovation. It features the private, independent, for-profit companies best positioned to solve tomorrow’s clean technology challenges.
MOST PROMISING CLEANTECH COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
2019
GLOBAL CLEANTECH100
Sunfire was named by Cleantech Group in the prestigious 2019 Global Cleantech 100. The Global Cleantech 100 is an annual guide to the leading companies and themes in sustainable innovation. It features the private, independent, for-profit companies best positioned to solve tomorrow’s clean technology challenges.
MOST PROMISING CLEANTECH COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
2018
GLOBAL CLEANTECH100
For the fourth time, Sunfire is named in the prestigious 2018 Global Cleantech 100, produced by Cleantech Group. The Global Cleantech 100 represents the most innovative and promising ideas impacting the future of a wide-range of industries. 12,300 nominations of distinct companies from 61 countries have been received.
MOST PROMISING CLEANTECH COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
2017
KANTHAL® AWARD
Sunfire is the winner of the 2017 Kanthal® Award, which recognizes innovations related to new solutions in the fields of sustainability, quality of life and energy efficiency. The award mainly honored Sunfire's process for producing a substitute for fossil oil and gas (so called e-Fuel) based on renewable electricity, carbon dioxide and water.
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
2017
GLOBAL CLEANTECH100
For the third time, Sunfire is named in the prestigious 2017 Global Cleantech 100, a list compiled by the Cleantech Group. The list includes independent, profit-led clean-tech companies not yet listed on the stock exchange. In 2017, more than 9,900 companies were nominated from 77 countries – a new record.
MOST PROMISING CLEANTECH COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
2016
INNOVATION & CLIMATE PROTECTION AWARD
Sunfire’s reversible electrolysis wins the Innovation & Climate Protection Award. The awards were organized for the 19th time by the Working Group on Efficient, Environmentally-Friendly Energy Consumption (ASUE) in cooperation with BDEW, DVGW and Zukunft ERDGAS. They honor innovative developments and concepts from the worlds of both science and industry, with particular focus placed on efficient natural gas technologies and processes.
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS
2016
FAST COMPANY’S MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES
Alongside Toyota and Tesla, Sunfire is listed on the renowned annual ranking by Fast Company as one of the ten most innovative energy companies worldwide. In the “Energy” category, Sunfire is ranked number 8 for “brewing ‘e-diesel’ from water and air”. Fast Company is one of the world’s most well-read online journals for decision-makers at innovative companies, focusing on technology, business, and design.
ENERGY SECTOR: FOR AN "E-DIESEL" FROM WATER AND AIR
2015
GLOBAL CLEANTECH100
Sunfire is named once more in the prestigious 2015 Global Cleantech 100, produced by the Cleantech Group. The list includes independent, profit-led clean-tech companies not yet listed on the stock exchange. A record number of nominations were received, with more than 6,900 companies from 60 countries.
MOST PROMISING CLEANTECH COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
2015
HANDELSBLATT ENERGY AWARDS
Sunfire's reversible electrolysis wins the Energy Award in the “Industry” category as ground-breaking technology for the energy transition. The Energy Awards annually honor the best innovations and ideas in the field of energy. They were initiated by Handelsblatt, a leading German business newspaper, and the technology group GE. In 2015, 108 companies applied for the coveted award.
INDUSTRY
2015
ECOSUMMIT AWARD
83 candidates from 14 countries — once again, Sunfire was delighted to come second place at the 2015 Ecosummit Award. This annually presented international award was initiated by Mobile Economy GmbH and is primarily targeted at start-ups with "green innovations".
START-UP IN THE LATE STAGE
2014
ECOSUMMIT AWARD
Sunfire is awarded silver at the 2014 Ecosummit Awards. The judges rated 49 nominees from 13 countries. The annually presented Ecosummit Awards were initiated by Mobile Economy GmbH. The international prize is primarily targeted at start-ups with “green innovations”.
SMART GREEN START-UPS WITH THE HIGHEST CHANCES OF SUCCESS
2014
GLOBAL CLEANTECH100
Sunfire is named one of the world's 100 most innovative clean-tech companies, from among nearly 6,000 companies from 60 countries. The list includes clean-tech companies which have earned a mention for particularly innovative, pioneering developments in the field of clean technologies.
MOST PROMISING CLEANTECH COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
2013
STEP AWARD
Sunfire wins the STEP Award, in the category “Processes & Sustainability”. The application focused on the business idea and the management team. Since 2006, the STEP Award has honored innovative, rapidly growing companies. The prize was initiated by Infraserv Höchst and the F.A.Z. Institute.
PROCESSES AND SUSTAINABILITY
Activities beyond electrolysis
Sunfire is not only recognized as a leading industrial electrolysis company - we also offer an off-grid power supply solution based on solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology. Sunfire-Remote enables clean and reliable power supply in moderate and harsh environments.
Fuel cells for off-grid power generation
/sunfire-Icon-negativ-auf-blau_Mobile_energy_applications .svg){kind=icon}
