(Oslo, 5 May 2022) The European Commission and the European electrolyser industry have signed a joint declaration containing a wide range of initiatives to improve framework conditions for electrolyser manufacturers in Europe.
The joint declaration was signed by EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, as well as Nel and other representatives from the electrolyser industry at the Electrolyser Summit in Brussels earlier today.
“Clean hydrogen is indispensable to reduce industrial carbon emissions and contribute to our energy independence from Russia. We have no time to lose, which is why this European electrolyser summit is so opportune. Today, industry agreed to a tenfold increase in electrolyser manufacturing capacities in Europe. The Commission will support this important industrial upscaling for an industrial leadership in the clean energy technologies of the future”, says EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton.
The joint declaration provides a solid foundation for the European Union’s ambitious ‘Hydrogen Accelerator’, that will be a part of the EUs plan to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels. This plan, which is called RePowerEU is expected to be communicated by the European Commission on 18 May.
“Demand for green hydrogen is growing extremely fast and we are glad to see the willingness from the European Commission to help us meet our common goals for green hydrogen production and the upscaling of electrolyser manufacturing capacities”, says CEO of Nel, Jon André Løkke.
In March this year the European Commission announced its increased ambitions to double the previous EU renewable hydrogen target to 10 million tons of annual domestic production, plus an additional 10 million tons of annual hydrogen imports.
According to industry estimates, reaching this target will require an installed electrolyser capacity of 90 - 100 GW in Europe, depending on utilization factors and efficiency rates. Consequently, the electrolyser production capacity must be scaled-up significantly.
“The electrolyser manufacturing capacity must be scaled-up significantly to meet the expected European demand for renewable hydrogen. There is no Hydrogen Accelerator without an acceleration in electrolyser manufacturing. There is no acceleration in electrolyser manufacturing in Europe without adequate regulatory and financial support. Cost-effective and scalable solutions are key qualification criteria. It’s time to walk the talk. We are looking forward to 18 May, when the Commission is expected to present its RePowerEU plan,” says Løkke.
A couple of weeks ago Nel officially opened its new and fully automated electrolyser facility at Herøya in Norway. Currently the factory has a production capacity of 500 MW, which can be increased to 2 GW.
The company has previously communicated an ambition to reach 10 GW production capacity in Europe, Asia and the US within 2025, if required by the market. The company has also stated that it will start a site selection process for additional production capacity in Europe.
Please find the joint declaration and the EU Commission’s press release in the following links.
- Electrolyser manufacturing capacities in the EU (europa.eu)
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