Research Equipment (SOFC/SOEC Test Station)

Utrecht University intends to award a contract for the supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of a bidirectional Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) test station for use in the university’s Hydrogen Laboratory. The system will be used to evaluate the electrochemical performance of SOFC and …

CPV: 38000000 Laboratóriumi, optikai és precíziós felszerelések (kivéve szemüvegek)
A végrehajtás helye:
Research Equipment (SOFC/SOEC Test Station)
Díjat odaítélő szervezet:
Universiteit Utrecht
Díj száma:
25/1000.1002/002

1. Buyer

1.1 Buyer

Official name : Universiteit Utrecht

2. Procedure

2.1 Procedure

Title : Research Equipment (SOFC/SOEC Test Station)
Description : Utrecht University intends to award a contract for the supply, installation,  commissioning and maintenance of a bidirectional Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) test station for use in the university’s Hydrogen Laboratory. The system will be used to evaluate the electrochemical performance of SOFC and SOEC stacks under various operational scenarios, including dynamic load profiles and long-term durability testing.
Procedure identifier : 9bfda7f5-e951-456b-9a3b-554383ea2eb6
Internal identifier : 25/1000.1002/002
Type of procedure : Negotiated without prior call for competition

2.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Supplies
Main classification ( cpv ): 38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

2.1.2 Place of performance

Country : Netherlands
Anywhere in the given country
Additional information : See documentation

2.1.4 General information

Legal basis :
Directive 2014/24/EU

5. Lot

5.1 Lot technical ID : LOT-0000

Title : Research Equipment (SOFC/SOEC Test Station)
Description : Utrecht University intends to award a contract for the supply, installation,  commissioning and maintenance of a bidirectional Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) test station for use in the university’s Hydrogen Laboratory. The system will be used to evaluate the electrochemical performance of SOFC and SOEC stacks under various operational scenarios, including dynamic load profiles and long-term durability testing.
Internal identifier : 25/1000.1002/002

5.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Supplies
Main classification ( cpv ): 38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

5.1.2 Place of performance

Country : Netherlands
Anywhere in the given country
Additional information : See documentation

5.1.6 General information

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) : yes

5.1.12 Terms of procurement

Information about review deadlines : See planning

5.1.15 Techniques

Framework agreement :
No framework agreement
Information about the dynamic purchasing system :
No dynamic purchase system

5.1.16 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : Rechtbank Midden-Nederland -
Information about review deadlines : See planning
Organisation providing additional information about the procurement procedure : Universiteit Utrecht -
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures : Universiteit Utrecht -
Organisation whose budget is used to pay for the contract : Universiteit Utrecht
Organisation executing the payment : Universiteit Utrecht

6. Results

Value of all contracts awarded in this notice : unpublished
Justification code : Commercial interests of an economic operator
Date of when this will be published : 01/05/2035
Direct award :
Justification for direct award : The contract can be provided only by a particular economic operator because of an absence of competition for technical reasons
Other justification : Description of the Contract: Utrecht University intends to award a contract for the supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of a bidirectional Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) test station for use in the university’s Hydrogen Laboratory. The system will be used to evaluate the electrochemical performance of SOFC and SOEC stacks under various operational scenarios, including dynamic load profiles and long-term durability testing. The intended test station must meet at least the following functional requirements: • Operation with multiple gas types, including H₂, CH₄, CO, and CO₂. • Compatibility with commercially available standard stack sizes. • Power capacity between 1 kW and 5 kW (in electrolysis mode). • Capability to operate under galvanostatic and potentiostatic control. • Seamless transition between SOFC and SOEC modes within 10 minutes. • Control ranges: operating temperatures between 600–900°C, gas flows from 0.1–10 L/min, and pressures from ambient up to 5 bar. • Durability testing capability for continuous operation up to 1000 hours per test cycle. • Integration of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, covering at least the 10 mHz–1 MHz frequency range, fully integrated into the automation software. • Data logging with a minimum sampling rate of 1 Hz, supporting exports in common industrial formats such as CSV, XML, or MDF 4.1 (or equivalent). • Fully automated gas supply system with mass flow controllers (accuracy: ±1% of full scale), a steam generator with controlled humidity management, and comprehensive safety systems, including hydrogen detection, emergency shutdown, and controlled venting of excess gases. Justification for Direct Award: Following a market analysis, Utrecht University has determined that only one supplier can deliver a test station that meets the specific functional and technical requirements necessary for the intended research purposes. The intended direct award is based on Article 2.32 paragraph 1 sub b of the Dutch Procurement Act 2012 (technical reasons – absence of competition for technical reasons).

6.1 Result lot ldentifier : LOT-0000

6.1.2 Information about winners

Winner :
Official name : HORIBA FuelCon GmbH
Tender :
Tender identifier : T150118
Identifier of lot or group of lots : LOT-0000
Contract information :
Identifier of the contract : 25/1000.1002/002

8. Organisations

8.1 ORG-0001

Official name : Universiteit Utrecht
Registration number : 30275924
Postal address : Heidelberglaan 8
Town : Utrecht
Postcode : 3584CS
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Utrecht ( NL310 )
Country : Netherlands
Contact point : Geurt Visser
Telephone : +31638679650
Internet address : https://www.uu.nl
Roles of this organisation :
Buyer
Organisation providing additional information about the procurement procedure
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures
Organisation whose budget is used to pay for the contract
Organisation executing the payment

8.1 ORG-0002

Official name : Rechtbank Midden-Nederland
Registration number : 82940444
Postal address : Vrouwe Justitiaplein 1
Town : Utrecht
Postcode : 3511 EX
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Utrecht ( NL310 )
Country : Netherlands
Email : iac@uu.nl
Telephone : +31302531230
Internet address : https://www.uu.nl
Roles of this organisation :
Review organisation

8.1 ORG-0003

Official name : HORIBA FuelCon GmbH
Town : Magdeburg-Barleben
Postcode : 39179
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Schwandorf ( DE239 )
Country : Germany
Email : iac@uu.nl
Telephone : +31 302531230
Roles of this organisation :
Tenderer
Winner of these lots : LOT-0000
Notice information
Notice identifier/version : 40f0a0d5-be37-4d9d-bfe0-72053367f4e8 - 01
Form type : Direct award preannouncement
Notice type : Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice
Notice dispatch date : 08/05/2025 13:14 +00:00
Notice dispatch date (eSender) : 08/05/2025 13:17 +00:00
Languages in which this notice is officially available : English
Notice publication number : 00307291-2025
OJ S issue number : 91/2025
Publication date : 13/05/2025