Siemens Energy plans to move the industrial production of electrolysis modules to Berlin, bringing the heart of its hydrogen technology to the German capital city.
Production is expected to begin in 2023 at the Huttenstrasse location in Berlin’s Moabit neighborhood. The existing production hall’s infrastructure can be utilized in its entirety at this location. Electrolyzer production lines are being expanded by around 30 million euros over 2,000 square meters. Today, the site primarily produces gas turbines, which are some of the most powerful and efficient in the world, and are manufactured at the site. Up to 50% hydrogen is already possible, and by 2030 it should be possible to run all of these on hydrogen.
It will be possible to produce the individual electrolyzer cells and stack them together in the Berlin facility. A larger process-based unit will then be assembled from these smaller units.
The final stage of production will take place in Mülheim, Germany, a town that is closely linked to and perfectly complements the new Berlin plant. In order to meet rising demand and future hydrogen costs, affordable and mass-produced electrolyzers are a necessity. Using a proton-permeable membrane and electricity from renewable sources, Siemens Energy is using PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysis to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. This procedure’s most notable features are its high efficiency, superior product gas quality, and consistent, chemical-free operation.
It is now possible for systems of this size to produce several metric tons of green hydrogen every hour with Siemens Energy’s latest and most powerful PEM electrolyzer product line. Renewable energy will be used in the production of electrolyzers.
Renewable energy for hydrogen production
Using renewable energy to produce hydrogen is a critical component of the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. It is possible to use hydrogen as both a storage medium and a raw material for other purposes, such as the production of synthetic fuels. Hydrogen molecules, on the other hand, can be directly used to generate electricity and heat, which have previously relied on gas. This is a way to ensure the success of the energy transition in conjunction with a massive expansion of renewables. The methods for producing green hydrogen and the byproducts it generates are well understood; the challenge now is to bring production up to industrial levels of production. Hydrogen technology will be based on powerful electrolyzers that will soon be manufactured in Berlin.
