EBZ

What EBZ does

EBZ GmbH (Entwicklungs- und Vertriebsgesellschaft Brennstoffzelle mbH) is a privately held German engineering company founded in 1999 and headquartered in Dresden, Germany. The company specializes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) testing infrastructure and high-temperature balance of plant (BOP) components, positioning itself as one of the leading industrial suppliers of test rigs in the SOFC sector. Its core product portfolio includes SOFC/SOEC test rigs, demonstration systems for residential and large-scale CHP, mobile auxiliary power units (APU), and a modular suite of process technology components (reformers, catalytic burners, heat exchangers, humidifiers, electrical gas heaters, economisers, furnaces, and heater control units). EBZ complements this hardware with proprietary software tools — EBZ ProControl (graphical test automation language), Event Messenger (event-driven SMS/email notification), and a graphical user interface built on National Instruments LabVIEW — plus independent SOFC stack testing laboratory services in Dresden capable of long-term (1000+ hour) degradation and thermal cycling experiments.

The company's business model combines customized hardware sales, professional engineering and system integration services, independent testing-as-a-service, and one-time software licensing. EBZ generates revenue through direct sales to enterprise customers across approximately 12 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia, with no third-party distribution channels. Its customer base spans SOFC stack manufacturers (Topsoe Fuel Cells, SOLIDpower, Sunfire/Staxera, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, POSCO, voestalpine), leading research institutions (Fraunhofer IKTS, Forschungszentrum Jülich, DLR, EPFL, VTT, ZSW), and government agencies (JRC-IET, NRC Canada, ENEA). Pricing is not publicly disclosed as products are customized to customer specifications.

EBZ has sustained operations through continuous participation in national and European R&D funding programs since 2002, including SMWA-funded projects in Saxony and EU Framework Programme projects (Real-SOFC, FLAME-SOFC, FC-District, FC-Eurogrid, DESIGN), as well as the most recent ESyRE project (2021-2023) funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy targeting 5 kWel APU-SOFC systems for synthetic e-fuels. The company is led by Managing Director Matthias Boeck and operates with 11-50 employees from a single Dresden facility.

Name

EBZ

Legal name

EBZ Entwicklungs- und Vertriebsgesellschaft Brennstoffzelle mbH

Website

https://ebz-dresden.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EBZ GmbH is a Dresden-based engineering company specializing in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) test rigs, high-temperature balance of plant components, and independent stack testing services for SOFC manufacturers and research institutions globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fuel Cell Test Equipment and Components

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Testing, Commissioning & Performance Validation for BESS (EUAEAEAK)

Keywords

• Solid oxide fuel cells
• Fuel cell test rigs
• High temperature components
• Balance of plant
• SOFC stack testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Fuel Cell Test Rigs and Systems: Sale of standard and customised stack and cell test rigs for SOFC/SOEC testing, including mechanical build-up, component integration, and measurement/control functions.
2. System Engineering Services: Engineering services including conception and build-up of laboratory equipment, stack integration, measurement and control systems, analysis and optimisation of systems, workshops and staff training.
3. Independent Stack Testing: Testing laboratory services verifying performance of SOFC stacks with standard testing procedures and benchmark conditions.
4. Process Technology Components: Sale of BOP components including reformers, heat exchangers, humidifiers, furnaces, catalytic burners, gas heaters, and economisers for fuel cell systems.
5. Software Solutions: Sale of EBZ ProControl graphical programming software and Event Messenger notification system for test automation.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

EBZ GmbH designs, manufactures, and integrates Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC/SOEC) test rigs, demonstration systems, and high-temperature balance of plant (BOP) components such as reformers, heat exchangers, catalytic burners, gas heaters, humidifiers, and furnaces. The company also provides independent stack testing services and proprietary test automation software (EBZ ProControl, Event Messenger) for fuel cell research, development, and commercialization.

Product overview

EBZ GmbH is an internationally operating specialist for SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) testing and high temperature components. The company offers a portfolio of demonstration systems and test rigs as core products, complemented by proprietary software tools (EBZ ProControl, Event Messenger, GUI) that enable automated operation and intelligent control. The product ecosystem includes balance of plant components for process technology: reformers, catalytic burners, electrical and gas heaters, humidifiers, heat exchangers, economisers, furnaces, and heater control units. All systems are optimized for minimal thermal and hydraulic losses at high temperatures. The modular architecture allows customers to select individual components or complete turnkey solutions, with software tools enabling seamless integration and automation across the entire testing and demonstration platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SOFC/SOEC Test Rigs

Named customers29 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (PT-J.ESN5)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ESyRE project (01.02.2021 to 31.07.2023) funded by Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Efficient synthesis and reconversion of E-Fuels via SOFC fuel cells. Project reference: 03EN5003C.
• EU (European Commission)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011DESIGN EU project (2011-2014) for degradation signature identification for state operation diagnostic. EBZ defined degradation phenomena and diagnostic methods.
• EU (European Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010FC-Eurogrid EU project (2010-2013) evaluating the performance of fuel cells in European energy supply grids.
• EU (European Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010FC-District EU project (2010-2014) for new micro-CHP network technologies for energy efficient and sustainable districts. EBZ developed a SOFC-system and built 5 demonstration systems for district heating.
• EU (European Commission)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006FC Chain EU project (2006-2009) for transfer of knowledge between universities and industry along the complete value chain.
• SMWA (Sächsisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Verkehr)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005EKO-SOFC project (SMWA 2005-2007) focused on optimisation of component fabrication and materials.
• EU (European Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005FLAME-SOFC EU project (2005-2009) for robust SOFC systems for one and multi-family homes. EBZ served as central system integrator.
• EU (European Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Real-SOFC EU project (2004-2008) to enhance the reliability of SOFC. EBZ tested SOFC-Stacks of European suppliers.
• SMWA (Sächsisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Verkehr)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002National research funding for decentralized energy supply with planar SOFC (SMWA 2002-2004). EBZ coordinated and realised the development of a modular decentralised energy supply system.
• SOLIDpower S.p.a.coreTechnology or IntegrationEBZ has integrated and operated SOFC stacks from SOLIDpower as part of demonstration systems and testing activities.
• Sunfire/StaxeracoreTechnology or IntegrationEBZ has integrated and operated SOFC stacks from Sunfire/Staxera. Additionally presented research on Staxera Integrated Stack Module performance at SOFC XI conference.
• Fraunhofer IKTScoreTechnology or IntegrationEBZ has integrated and operated SOFC stacks from Fraunhofer IKTS as part of demonstration systems and testing activities.
• Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ)coreTechnology or IntegrationEBZ has integrated and operated SOFC stacks from Forschungszentrum Jülich. EBZ was partner for stack testing in the European research project REAL-SOFC.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bloom Energy: US-based commercial SOFC system manufacturer with substantial in-house testing and integration capabilities. Operates at much larger scale than EBZ but addresses the same SOFC market and has overlapping stack testing and BOP component requirements.
• Ballard Power Systems: Established fuel cell company focused primarily on PEMFC for mobility but with adjacent SOFC exposure. Larger incumbent with internal test infrastructure that competes for talent and customer mind-share in the broader fuel cell testing ecosystem.
• AVL List GmbH: Global powertrain and energy testing specialist with a fuel cell / electrolyser test systems portfolio. Larger and broader than EBZ, but competes in the same fuel cell test equipment category and serves overlapping industrial customers.

Emerging players

• Fiaxell: Swiss supplier of SOFC cell and stack testing platforms as well as high-temperature electrochemical test equipment. Direct overlap with EBZ in SOFC-specific stack testing instruments.
• Solidpower: European SOFC stack and micro-CHP system maker (BlueGEN platform). Comparable end-market exposure to EBZ with internal stack testing capability, though more focused on commercial product deployment versus test infrastructure supply.
• ZBT GmbH (Zentrum für BrennstoffzellenTechnik): German fuel cell research and testing centre providing stack and system testing services plus test rig development. Comparable to EBZ in providing independent SOFC testing services to the same European research and industry customer base.
• Sunfire / Staxera: German SOFC stack and electrolysis system manufacturer. Although a customer of EBZ, it operates in the same SOFC value chain with in-house stack testing capability that competes for some of the same test-rig design expertise.
• Topsoe Fuel Cell: Danish SOFC stack manufacturer and subsidiary of Topsoe. Comparable SOFC technology focus and overlap with EBZ in stack testing requirements; an existing EBZ customer but also a potential competitor in test rig expertise.

Direct peers

• HORIBA FuelCon (formerly FuelCon): Supplier of fuel cell test stations and evaluation systems, now part of HORIBA. Overlaps directly with EBZ's test rig and automation software business, addressing the same stack manufacturers and research institutes.
• Greenlight Innovation: Specialist manufacturer of fuel cell and electrolyser test stations, very comparable to EBZ in serving stack developers with automated test equipment. Both companies occupy the niche of customised test rigs for hydrogen and fuel-cell R&D customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EBZ