Battolyser Systems and VDL Hydrogen Systems have agreed to merge their activities into a single company to bring the first fully flexible electrolyzer for large-scale industrial applications to market. The merged company will develop and market the electrolyzer with VDL Groep as stack manufacturing partner. Pilot projects are ongoing with industrial customers, followed by full scale demonstrations and commercial ramp-up thereafter.

The cost of green hydrogen remains too high for mass adoption, and further innovation and scale is needed to unlock the hydrogen economy. Both VDL Hydrogen Systems and Battolyser Systems are developing a novel pressurized alkaline electrolyzer, with VDL Hydrogen Systems focusing on high capacity and Battolyser Systems on flexibility to deliver the lowest cost hydrogen. A joining of forces will significantly improve product competitiveness and the ability to deliver at scale to industries such as e-fuels, steel and grid applications.

Electrolyzers for industrial applications currently on the market cannot be easily turned on and off, requiring a load of 20% or more to ensure safe operation. Fully flexible electrolyzers offer a significant benefit by facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind, into our energy system. When there is lots of wind, flexible electrolyzers can convert excess power to hydrogen and inject it into a pipeline network. When there is not enough wind, these electrolyzers can shut off, and customers connected to the pipeline network are supplied with stored or imported hydrogen.

“Our technologies are complementary to each other and together we can develop a better product that can be delivered at industrial scale to our customers with VDL Groep as manufacturing partner,” said Mattijs Slee – CEO Battolyser Systems.

Europe has never in its history been more dependent on energy imports than today and needs to develop its own renewable energy sources. This merger can play a critical role in developing a European value chain to accelerate our own energy transition and export products worldwide.

Willem van der Leegte, President and CEO of VDL Groep said, "The combination of competences will result in a much stronger position to develop a state-of-the-art, ‘made in Europe’ electrolyzer that will enable customers to produce competitive green hydrogen at large scale. This is essential for the successful transition to a sustainable energy supply."

The merger is subject to the consent of the European Investment Bank and is planned to take effect in Q4 2025. Battolyser Systems and VDL Hydrogen Systems shareholders will fund the merger on an equal basis and plan to continue to support the company going forward.