The 1 GW per annum Battolyser factory will be located in Rotterdam’s M4H area.
A Battolyser can “produce hydrogen from solar and wind when power prices are low and provide electricity to the grid when prices are high”.
The technology, invented by Prof. Dr. Fokko Mulder and his research team at Delft University of Technology, is said to alleviate grid congestion, enable the build-out of more solar and wind energy developments, and offer the lowest cost green hydrogen.
The cost of the 14,000 m2 production site, complete with new office and laboratory facilities, is estimated to be about €100 million.
Once fully operational, the Battolyser Systems says the facility will require some 700 directly employed staff, and create up to four times as many indirect jobs with supply chain partners.
“This partnership will develop the first industrial green hydrogen equipment manufacturing facility in The Netherlands,” said Mattijs Slee, CEO, Battolyser Systems. “With our offshore wind potential, strong infrastructure and world class heavy industry, The Netherlands can now develop a sustainable and resilient energy system.”
Germany and The Netherlands are the 1st and 2nd largest hydrogen consumers in Europe today. Both have giga scale plans for green hydrogen that will be consumed in or pass through the port of Rotterdam.
“Rotterdam positions itself as Europe’s Hydrogen Hub and new sustainable industries are welcomed to help realize the transition that’s taking place in Rotterdam. We need companies such as Battolyser Systems, and we believe the port is the ideal place for its first large scale factory,” said Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam.
The factory will also act as Battolyser Systems’ headquarter and R&D center, and will open during the second half of 2024.
“In this industrial ecosystem, the Battolyser factory is expected to become an anchor for a new platform of companies committed to building a sustainable equipment manufacturing supply chain,” said Castelein. “Companies in the port are already actively working on projects regarding production, imports, shipping, storage and use of green hydrogen. With this factory we add green hydrogen equipment manufacturing to that portfolio. This is of great value for the port’s ongoing efforts to decarbonize and facilitate sustainable industries for the future.”
The final investment decision is scheduled for late 2023 and requires private and public investments to compete internationally, says the company.
“This partnership with port of Rotterdam to develop our first large scale manufacturing facility together is a big step forward in our commercialization. The factory allows us to deliver Battolysers at industrial scale and affordable prices. We are in constructive conversation with the Dutch government and EU institutions, and we are confident that together we can secure the required funding,” said Slee. A net zero world will require between 5,000 and 10,000 GW of installed electrolyser capacity. The electrolyser supply chain is a huge opportunity for The Netherlands to develop new sustainable industries that can support our energy transition needs and offer export products to world.”
Photo: Greger Ravik / Flickr / CC BY 2.0