RCT GH GmbH (RCT Hydrogen) plans to start manufacturing electrolyzer stacks in the first quarter of 2026 at a new facility in Thuringia. The stacks are intended for use in integrated pressurized alkaline electrolyzer systems supplied to initial megawatt-scale hydrogen projects for German industrial companies, primarily under a ‘hydrogen-as-a-service’ model. Additional systems with individual electrolyzer capacities exceeding 30 MW are currently in the planning stage.
The company signed cooperation agreements with an experienced production partner in eastern Germany on 22 December 2025, marking the start of preparations for the manufacturing site. The planned facility is designed for an annual electrolyzer capacity of up to 250 MW. Manufacturing activities are scheduled to begin with the assembly of a first 2.5 MW electrolyzer at the new facility, with delivery and commissioning planned for the third quarter of 2026 at a German industrial customer’s site.
“We have now taken the decisive step toward producing robust and durable electrolyzer technology, which is necessary for the production of cost-effective green hydrogen in Germany,” said Prof. Dr. Peter Fath, Managing Director of RCT Hydrogen.
The integrated systems are based on pressurized alkaline electrolyzer technology and incorporate key components supplied by the Chinese partner Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy Technology & Equipment Co. Ltd (Guofuhee), operating through its German subsidiary GF Hydrogen Europe GmbH. RCT GH GmbH is jointly owned by the RCT Group, which holds 51%, and Guofuhee, which holds the remaining 49%. According to the company, the cooperation supports cost-optimized production while keeping the main manufacturing steps in Germany and Europe.
The technology is TÜV-certified, and a preliminary agreement has been signed for the delivery of two 2.5 MW electrolyzer systems to industrial customers.
“We expect this to trigger a real hydrogen boom, as it will enable the use of hydrogen for industry at reasonable costs for the first time, based on the power grid with 75–100% renewable electricity,” said Dr. Eric Rüland, Vice President Sales and Products. He added that the hydrogen-as-a-service model allows RCT Hydrogen and its partners to take over hydrogen production at customer sites, enabling industrial customers to purchase hydrogen at fixed prices.
he control components for the hydrogen production processes, as well as the process software for electricity and energy flows, are being developed in cooperation with Siemens Digital Industries. The solutions are based on programmable logic controllers and include both hardware and software components. RCT Hydrogen stated that this approach is a key element of overall plant safety. A memorandum of understanding covering joint project development was signed between Siemens, Guofuhee, and RCT Hydrogen in February 2025 and is being implemented through the upcoming projects.
The company stated that, compared with natural gas, hydrogen prices per kilowatt hour are currently around 20–50% higher, but this difference is partly offset by CO₂ pricing of around €83 per metric ton. The hydrogen-as-a-service model is particularly relevant for industrial customers that already use hydrogen in their processes, especially where hydrogen has previously been supplied by trailers and trucks.
