As early as next year, production of PEM electrolysis stacks will be carried out there automatically, providing a potential total electrolysis capacity of up to 5 gigawatts. The stacks form the heart of the PEM electrolyzers which are built at the company’s headquarters in Augsburg. In addition, a customer and training center is planned, where customers and interested parties from around the world will be supported in successfully implementing hydrogen solutions with maximum efficiency and safety.
Construction of the automated factory is part of the PEP.IN research project and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) via the H₂Giga-lead project for hydrogen generation. The aim of the project is to research new and innovative processes for the competitive and series production of PEM electrolysis stacks and electrolyzers in Germany in order to make green hydrogen affordable and cost-effective. In addition to the proven S450 stacks, H-TEC SYSTEMS will also develop and produce a new stack generation with an enhanced performance in the Stack Manufacturing & Development Center.
State-of-the-art production and development site
With the new production site in Hamburg, H-TEC SYSTEMS is strengthening its position in the hydrogen market as well as making a decisive contribution to the global hydrogen initiative. “The need for hydrogen solutions in industry is on the increase. With more than 11,000 square meters of space available for production and test procedures, we are ideally positioned to cover future product generations at our new location and thus effectively facilitate the global hydrogen start-up,” said Robin von Plettenberg, CEO of H-TEC SYSTEMS. “For a problem-free, highly available and cost-effective production of PEM electrolyzers and stacks, in addition to automated production processes, it is also necessary to align the corresponding supply chains to match the needs of electrolyzer and electrolysis stack production.”
Together with the parent company, MAN Energy Solutions, H-TEC SYSTEMS made a conscious decision in favor of the new location in Hamburg and is thus clearly committed to Germany as a production location. The supply chains too, which are required for the stack production, are predominantly based on German and European supply company operations.
Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, said: “For a successful hydrogen initiative, we have to scale up from stack manufacture to automated series production, and we are symbolically breaking ground for this today. I am very pleased that H-TEC SYSTEMS is at the forefront of this development. MAN Energy Solutions plans to invest 500 million euros in electrolyzer production during the next few years in order to make H-TEC SYSTEMS one of the world’s top 3 manufacturers.”
