The largest hydrogen generator in Spain was presented; can run on renewable energy sources

Aiming for a more sustainable future, Nordex SE, one of Germany’s leading wind turbine manufacturers, has built a prototype of its 500 kW pressurized alkaline electrolyzer.

The electrolyzer was designed, manufactured and assembled entirely in Spain, making it the largest electrolyzer to be built in a European country.

As countries look to phase out fossil fuels, there is a big focus on solar and wind energy generation. While these measures will help shift electricity generation away from sources such as coal and gas, there is also a need for high-density fuel that can be easily transported.

Hydrogen is one such fuel that can replace fossil fuels in cars and even airplanes. However, current ways of producing hydrogen still rely on fossil fuels, which makes the energy source in its current form unsuitable for combating climate change.

Electrolysers can help change this scenario by using cleaner and greener energy to produce hydrogen.

What is a pressurized alkaline electrolyzer?

Nordex, a German wind turbine manufacturer, is starting to produce hydrogen using a pressurized alkaline electrolyzer.

In this configuration, a highly concentrated liquid electrolyte such as potassium or sodium hydroxide is used and the two electrodes are separated by a porous inorganic membrane.

The hydrogen gas produced in the process can be easily separated, and the entire process operates at temperatures below 212 Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius).

This technology is suitable for large-scale hydrogen production at relatively lower costs. Nordex SE spun off an electrolyzer unit, Nordex Electrolyzers, to build these electrolyzers in cooperation with the government of Navarre, Spain.

The largest electrolyzer in Spain

Earlier this week, Nordex Electrolyzers unveiled the first prototype of its 500 kW pressurized alkaline electrolyzer.

The company has previously developed a 50 kW prototype that is undergoing testing and characterization at its facility in Puertollano, Ciudad Real.

At 500 kW, the electrolyzer can produce approximately 22 pounds (10 kg) of hydrogen per hour and uses less than 50 kWh of energy per kilogram of hydrogen produced.

However, the technology and design of the hydrogen generator allow production even during power supply fluctuations and blackouts.

In other words, the prototype was designed to work with renewable energy generated from wind farms, which will enable cooperation with wind farms built using Nordex wind turbines.

The company intends to incorporate electrolyzers into its product portfolio and leverage its global manufacturing footprint to deliver hydrogen generation technologies worldwide.

Elaborating on plans for the electrolyzers, Luis Solla, CEO of Nordex Electrolyzers, said: “This prototype is part of Nordex Electrolyzers’ proposed business development plan, which aims to make the final design of a MW-scale serializable product available by 2026.”

“One of Nordex Electrolyzers’ commitments is to produce high-quality and efficient electrolyzers, as well as to focus on sustainability and contributing to the transition to a clean energy economy,” Solla added.

The electrolyzer development plan is partially funded by the European Commission. As part of the Hy2Tech program, Nordex Electrolyzers received a grant of EUR 12 million for the development of electrolyzers, the company announced in a press release.