MAN ES Opens Automated Electrolyser Gigafactory in Hamburg
Electrolysis specialist Quest One, a subsidiary of MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES), has opened a new “gigahub” for the serial and automated production of electrolysis stacks in Hamburg, Germany.
In the presence of more than 800 guests, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of Hamburg, Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN ES, and Quest One’s CEO Robin von Plettenberg kicked off this “new phase” in the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy.
At the new site, the hydrogen technology specialist is starting the serial and automated production of PEM electrolysis stacks for the production of green hydrogen. PEM electrolysis, which is based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology, is said to be one of the most important processes for industrially scaled hydrogen production from renewable energies.
MAN ES called the series production an important step towards making green hydrogen available in large quantities and thus becoming a reliable alternative to fossil fuels.
Lauber stated: “Today we are opening Europe’s most modern production plant in the hydrogen economy. MAN Energy Solutions and Quest One are thus making a substantial contribution to the establishment and industrialisation of sustainable future technologies in Germany and Europe.
“We are thus investing in the future of Germany as a business location and in the energy transition as a task for society as a whole, because there is no alternative for a climate-neutral future.
“MAN Energy Solutions, as one of the oldest industrial companies in the world, will continue to work towards this goal.”
Scholz commented: “Today, Hamburg-Rahlstedt is sending out a signal. Until now, electrolysers have been made by hand. If the step towards automated production on an industrial scale is successful, the costs and time required for production will fall.
“Serial production should reduce the production time here in Rahlstedt by 75 percent. This is a real milestone for the rapid hydrogen ramp-up and shows what is possible in our country.”
At full capacity, the new “gigahub” is expected to enable the automated series production of PEM stacks with a potential total electrolysis capacity of over five gigawatts per year.
To note, stacks are the technological centerpiece of electrolysers and split water into oxygen and hydrogen with the help of renewable electricity.
According to MAN ES, the highly automated stack production takes place on two production lines: “Titan” with a linear transport system and “Gerd” with swivelling arm robots.
As disclosed, the “gigahub” was built in just one and a half years on a site measuring over 26,000 square meters in Victoria Park, an industrial park in Hamburg, and sustainability played a central role in its development. Initially, around 200 employees will work here in the areas of production, development, testing and service. The site will also serve as a customer and training center.
With the opening of this production site, the company, formerly known as H-TEC SYSTEMS, changed its name and officially became Quest One.
