Once fully expanded, the new Gigahub will enable the automated series production of PEM stacks with a potential total electrolysis capacity of over five gigawatts per year.
Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, said: “Today we are giving the go-ahead for the most modern production plant in the hydrogen economy in the whole of Europe. With this plant, MAN Energy Solutions and Quest One are making a substantial contribution to the establishment and industrialization of sustainable future technologies in Germany and Europe. We are thus investing in the future of Germany as a business location and in the energy transition as a task for society as a whole – because there is no alternative. We must not lose sight of this, even in difficult times, and MAN Energy Solutions, as one of the oldest industrial companies in the world, will continue to work towards this goal.”
The highly automated stack production takes place on two production lines: ‘Titan’ with a linear transport system and ‘Gerd’ with swivel-arm robots. These lines are named after two moons of Saturn, a planet composed predominantly of hydrogen. Many work steps that were previously carried out manually are now automated, reducing stack production time by around 75%. Stacks can now be produced in Hamburg in under an hour.
Thanks to automation, the company is also improving manufacturing efficiency and precision, optimizing logistics processes, and ensuring consistently high product quality with faster delivery times.
The automated stack production is part of the PEP.IN research project and was funded by the H2Giga hydrogen lighthouse project of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The goal is to research innovative processes for the competitive and series production of PEM electrolysis stacks and electrolyzers in Germany in order to make green hydrogen affordable and competitive.
The new production and development site plays a central role in realizing the Quest One’s mission to avoid one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through the use of its own electrolyzers.
Robin von Plettenberg, CEO of Quest One, said: “The hydrogen economy is set to transform dramatically in the coming years and decades, reaching volumes we can scarcely imagine today. As a key industry of the future, electrolysis stands at the forefront. So, with Quest One, we are laying the foundations here and now to be at the forefront in the future. With the opening of our Gigahub in Hamburg, one of the most advanced sites for the research, development, and production of electrolysis technology, we are positioning ourselves as a key player in the hydrogen industry. With our mission firmly in site: avoiding one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”
Production and development under one roof
The Gigahub was built in just one and a half years on a site measuring over 26,000 square meters in Victoria Park, an industrial estate in the Hamburg district of Rahlstedt on the border with Schleswig-Holstein. The project was realized through a joint venture between Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH and the Jebens Group.
Sustainability played a central role in the development of the Gigahub; for instance, the green roofs are equipped with a photovoltaic system. Platinum certification from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) is being targeted for 2025.
The floor space of the new Gigahub exceeds 12,000 square meters. Initially, around 200 employees will work here in a modern, family-friendly environment across production, development, testing, and service. The site will also serve as a customer and training center.
