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Abstract Thermal management is critical to both stack durability and system operability. In this study, a 22-cell stack with 200 cm² cells—based on the CEA “compact” architecture—was instrumented with 42 additional thermocouples compared to the standard CEA stack. The thermocouples were strategically embedded within the stack using three custom-designed plates inserted at key locations directly between SRUs. To complement direct measurements, an indirect temperature assessment method based on open-circuit voltage (OCV) was also implemented. This experimental setup enabled the capture of highly localized temperature variations during operation. Thermal mapping was conducted under standard SOEC mode conditions, encompassing both slow and rapid polarization curves, as well as strongly endothermic and stabilized exothermic operating points. The resulting thermal maps revealed a maximum in-plane temperature gradient of 37°C and a z-axis gradient of 40°C between the central and end plates. These findings highlight the value of the custom thermal plates for in situ temperature measurements, revealing significant thermal gradients between the stack’s core and its end plates, which are conventionally used for operational control. Notably, the OCV-based temperature estimation method yielded consistent results without requiring additional instrumentation, offering a practical alternative for thermal monitoring.