Power to Hydrogen (P2H2) has begun installing a 500 kW electrolyser at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The system is based on anion exchange membrane technology (AEM) and is, according to the manufacturer, the world's first facility to use 250 kW AEM stacks in an industrial port environment. Commissioning is scheduled for September, with the public launch planned for the same month.
First commercial use of the M-Class platform
The project is the first commercial application of Power to Hydrogen's M-Class hybrid AEM electrolysers. According to the company, this series is designed for expansion up to 25 megawatts for industrial applications. The facility is based on modular 250 kW stacks and is intended to be operated dynamically.
According to the manufacturer, the system responds to load changes in less than 50 milliseconds, enabling operation with fluctuating renewable power. Additionally, the facility operates under pressure, reducing the need for downstream compression and simplifying the setup of the periphery.
Avoiding precious metals to reduce costs
The AEM technology replaces the precious metals commonly used in PEM electrolysers with cheaper materials such as steel and nickel. According to the company, this can reduce capital expenditure (CAPEX) by up to 65 percent compared to comparable PEM electrolysers. The project aims to establish a repeatable, installable configuration and pave the way for future multi-megawatt projects through independent validation.
“Renewable hydrogen is moving from pilot projects to infrastructure, and the winners will be the companies that can manufacture, deliver, and operate at an industrial scale,” says Paul Matter, CEO of Power to Hydrogen. The project in Antwerp is a concrete step towards financeable applications and shows that production-ready hardware can be built, delivered, and operated at an active site. It is the blueprint for further projects in Europe.
First customer is hydrogen supplier Holthausen
The electrolyser is intended to supply both mobility and industrial applications in the region. According to the company, commercial revenues are expected in the first year of operation. The main initial customer is Holthausen, a regional supplier of industrial gases and hydrogen-powered trucks. The system is designed to supply additional customers in the future.
Rob Smeets, CEO of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, places the project within the port's strategy: “The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a hub where ambition and action come together. By hosting the commercial AEM electrolyser from Power to Hydrogen, we are taking another concrete step to support the demonstration of scalable, flexible technologies in Europe that are necessary for the energy transition in Europe.”
Utilities as investors
The facility at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges stems from Power to Hydrogen's selection as the winner of the Free Electrons innovation program in 2022. The program is supported by several utility companies, including American Electric Power (AEP), EDP, E.ON, ESB, Origin Energy, and CLP. Several of these companies are now also investors in Power to Hydrogen. A requirement of the program was a commercial demonstration under real operating conditions, paving the way to the NextGen District at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
“Utilities invest in technologies when there is a credible path to field performance with repeatable results,” emphasizes Daniel Joisten, Head of Technology Scouting and Innovation at E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions. The project is an important step to demonstrate flexible, load-following AEM electrolysis on a commercial scale.
