Nel is ready to increase its electrolyzer production capacity to meet the European Union’s raised ambitions for renewable hydrogen.

“We are ready to add the electrolyzer production capacity needed in Europe and abroad when required by the market,” said Nel’s CEO Jon André Løkke. “Our brand-new and fully automated electrolyzer manufacturing facility at Herøya is already producing at tree shifts. We are reaching new production records every week and will start a site selection process for additional production capacity in Europe," said Løkke.

Nel’s electrolyzer plant at Herøya can provide 500 MW of capacity to the market with the possibility to expand up to 2 GW.

On Tuesday this week, the European Commission announced its “REPowerEU” communication which outlines the EU’s plans to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030. The communication also highlights a series of measures to respond to soaring energy prices in Europe.

Raised ambitions

Among other, REPowerEU places an even stronger emphasis on the role of renewable hydrogen. The EU Hydrogen Strategy presented in May 2020 set an objective for the production of 10 MMt of renewable hydrogen by 2020. With this new communication, the EU is increasing its ambition and hydrogen strategy objectives by adding a further 15 MMt of renewable hydrogen (10 MMt to be imported and 5 MMt produced domestically in the EU). This new amount would contribute to reducing dependence on imported Russian gas by 25-50 Bm³ by 2030.

In addition, REPowerEU aims to bring forward the implementation of the Innovation Fund in order to support the switch to electrification and hydrogen, including through an EU-wide scheme for carbon contracts for difference, and to enhance the EU’s manufacturing capabilities for innovative zero and low carbon equipment, such as electrolyzers. Furthermore, the European Commission has committed to assessing State aid notification for hydrogen projects as a matter of priority with the aim to have the assessment of the first Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) completed by summer.

“We are committed and ready to deliver on the promise to help make Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world. It’s time to turn Europe’s hydrogen ambition into a reality. We need a clear and predictable regulatory framework which provides certainty and appropriate incentives for renewable hydrogen technologies,” said Løkke.