Helen Oy is joining MAN Energy Solutions and H-TEC SYSTEMS to build a 3-MW green H₂ production plant in the vicinity of Helsinki’s district heating network and the Vuosaari Harbour. With this pilot plant, Helen will increase its expertise to meet the needs of large-scale H₂ production and enhance the flexibility to the entire energy system.

MAN Energy Solutions will be responsible as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for the H₂ section of plant and the delivery of H₂ related equipment, its installation as well as commissioning. The remaining part will be done in co-operation with Helen and Helen's engineering partner.

Sari Mannonen, Senior Vice President New business & H₂ at Helen Oy, said, “The 3H2 project is the first of its kind in the world by combining four different sectors, electricity, heating, transportation and H₂ as well as flexibility between them. Our whole H₂ team at Helen is very excited and proud of the cooperation with MAN Energy Solutions that is well known of its world class expertise in the industry.”

H-TEC SYSTEMS, a leading supplier of PEM electrolysis technologies and subsidiary of MAN Energy Solutions (from 30th September 2024 on, H-TEC SYSTEMS will operate under the name Quest One), will supply 3 × ME450 PEM electrolyzers as the centerpiece of the plant; these will produce up to 1,350 kilograms of green H₂ per day from green electricity generated by Helen’s renewable energy source portfolio. Helen Oy is planning to deliver the H₂ to a nearby H₂ refueling station via pipeline and distribute it to industrial customers or other refueling stations using containers. The waste heat generated in the production process will be utilized in Helen’s district heating network.

Alexander Stöckler, Head of Sales, Tendering & Project Management, Power Segment at MAN Energy Solutions, said, “Green H₂ is undoubtedly the key element for a climate-neutral future and the global economy will require it in large quantities. It is therefore most important that energy suppliers like Helen Oy lead the way by building plants and gaining valuable operational experience with H₂ technology. We urgently need industrial production plants to achieve economies of scale, reduce costs and meet the huge future demand for H₂ both efficiently and economically.”

PEM electrolysis: Ideal for green H₂. At the core of the plant are the three PEM electrolyzers from H-TEC SYSTEMS. Through the PEM process, water is split into H₂ and oxygen with the help of an electric current that is passed through a special membrane. Due to its high dynamics, PEM electrolysis is ideally suited for coupling with fluctuating renewable-electricity sources – such as wind and solar – and has clear advantages over alkaline electrolysis. PEM electrolysis also requires less electricity per kilogram of H₂ produced, does not use any aggressive chemicals, and produces high-purity H₂ that is suitable for direct use.

Robin von Plettenberg, CEO of H-TEC SYSTEMS, said, “By combining H-TEC SYSTEMS’ expertise in the field of PEM electrolysis with MAN Energy Solutions' broad experience in plant engineering, we can offer our customers a first-class package for the production of green H₂. We are very pleased that Helen Oy has placed its trust in our joint capabilities and is taking this important step into the future of H₂ with us. With this plant in the vicinity of the Vuosaari Harbour, our electrolyzers will produce green H₂ in all Scandinavian countries and Finland. In this way, we are well on the way to laying an important foundation for a climate-neutral energy supply.”