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New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Air Liquide and Siemens Energy have officially inaugurated their joint venture gigawatt electrolyser factory in Berlin, Germany.
The mass production of electrolyser components is expected to allow the manufacturing of low-carbon hydrogen at industrial scale and competitive cost.
The new site leverages automation and robotics for the series production of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser modules, the main component of the electrolyser. The PEM modules are particularly adapted to an intermittent renewable energy supply.
The new factory is currently operating at 1 GW, with plans to ramp-up to an annual production capacity of 3 GW by 2025.
François Jackow, Chief Executive Officer, Air Liquide Group, comments: ‘The mass production of industrial scale electrolysers is essential to making competitive renewable hydrogen a reality. Our joint venture with Siemens Energy brings the best of our respective expertise together. This state-of-the art technology will soon be operated at the Trailblazer electrolyser in Oberhausen, with a major scale-up coming for the Normand’Hy electrolyser project.’
Hydrogen in Japan
In other news, Air Liquide has partnered with ENEOS to accelerate the development of low-carbon hydrogen in Japan. Upstream, the partners will study the development of hydrogen production and will examine possible collaboration in the development of an international liquid hydrogen supply chain to serve the Japanese market from abroad. Downstream, the partnership will envisage joint initiatives to develop hydrogen mobility, including through a hydrogen refuelling station infrastructure.