Since its establishment in 1997, H-TEC SYSTEMS is one of the technological pioneers in PEM electrolysis and therefore green hydrogen production.
Today, the company builds on its years of experience and support of its mother company MAN Energy Solutions while operating under the umbrella of the German giant Volkswagen Group to develop innovative PEM electrolyzers and electrolysis stacks to reach a goal which effects the whole society: Avoiding 1 percent of global Greenhouse Gas emissions. The production of hydrogen by PEM-electrolysis is CO2-free because the electricity used comes 100 percent from renewable energy sources.
For a more sustainable future, H-TEC SYSTEMS goes large scale to become one of the top three players in the global PEM electrolysis market. Both sites of the company, based in Germany (Augsburg and Hamburg) are working on the goal to ensure the 1 percent “north star” and therefore demonstrate that mobility, production and consumption are possible without emissions. Not someday, but already today – with H-TEC SYSTEMS.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
H-TEC SYSTEMS: For H-TEC SYSTEMS, green hydrogen is the key to a CO2 neutral transformation of all sectors and towards a better future. Therefore, the company’s main areas of activity are not only the development but also the production of PEM electrolyzers. The core element of all H-TEC SYSTEMS eletrolyzers is the PEM stack, developed and manufactured at the company’s stack production site in Braak by Hamburg, Germany. The plants are built in Augsburg.
Besides the development and production of the electrolyzers, H-TEC SYSTEMS also provides an extensive service portfolio that covers the entire lifecycle of their products.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
H-TEC SYSTEMS: During the last years, H-TEC SYSTEMS has been able to develop a range of products. Starting with the PEM electrolyzer ME450 for a hydrogen production of 450 kg/d. Its modularity makes it suitable for projects requiring 1-3 MW of electrolysis capacity. In addition to a container solution for outdoor installations up to 10 MW, the company has now released a scalable Indoor-Solution for the industrial production of green hydrogen. With the new PEM electrolyzer, Modular Hydrogen Platform (MHP), a scalability up to 100 MW and more is possible. This represents a huge milestone for H-TEC SYSTEMS and furthermore enables the company to represent as a leading competitor on the market.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
H-TEC SYSTEMS: H-TEC SYSTEMS offers a range of products developed in the last years which includes different types of electrolyzers. The ME450 is the company’s plug-and play-solution for building a hydrogen infrastructure and produces 450 kg of green hydrogen per day, with a purity of 5.0, using 1 MW of renewable energy. In the space of just one standard 40-foot container, enough hydrogen can be produced to refuel 90 cars daily. This turnkey solution is the most efficient PEM electrolyzer currently available on the market with a system efficiency of 75 percent at 30 bar pressure. The efficiency level is even higher with heat utilization. For larger projects, H-TEC SYSTEMS offers the Hydrogen Cube System (HCS) as modular system, which can be installed outdoors. For applications above 10 MW the Modular Hydrogen Platfrom (MHP) is the system that meets the requirements for the industrial hydrogen production. It is a PEM electrolyzer for indoor installation on pre-assembled skids. 10 MW blocks can be combined into systems with an electrolysis performance of 100 MW and more. The overall system efficiency of 77 percent at 30 bar pressure along with high system availability thus result in low hydrogen costs.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
H-TEC SYSTEMS: Green hydrogen technologies are of paramount importance for a climate-neutral future and can be implemented in diverse sectors. At the present time, the products of H-TEC SYSTEMS are mainly used in the mobility sector or in industry sectors like the green steel or chemical industry.
All these markets are independent of each other, but in view of the growing threat of environmental pollution, they are dependent on sustainable solutions such as those offered by H-TEC SYSTEMS.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
H-TEC SYSTEMS: The demand for large-scale industrial hydrogen projects is steadily increasing. Furthermore, energy transition is not possible without hydrogen. The goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is expected to lead to more stringent legal regulations on vehicle emission limits, particularly in the transport sector. Consequently, the industry is also facing mounting pressure.
There are already existing projects that demonstrate its successful utilization, such as in the heating of kilns for the production of glass, cement, or steel.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
H-TEC SYSTEMS: The Modular Hydrogen platform has been released recently. This system is the ideal solution for large-scale hydrogen production in the industry sector. One of the most important features of the MHP is the high system efficiency of 77 percent (<51kWh/kg) at 30 bar pressure which is far above the standard values. Besides this, the MHP offers a unique redundancy concept. In the event of a stack failure within a 10 MW block as well as scheduled maintenance or inspections, a defined part of the installation can be shut down while the rest of the electrolyzer continues to operate. Through this concept, the system can achieve almost full performance even in the event of a fault, which represents crucial added value for customers based in the renewable energy and industrial sectors.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
H-TEC SYSTEMS: 2023 is going to be a very exciting and eventful year for H-TEC SYSTEMS. Not only the company’s fast growth, which can be comprehended alone through the last year, brings changes and development. Also new hydrogen products such as the new 100 MW solution will shape the year and be part of a huge step towards a sustainable future. In addition, H-TEC SYSTEMS is building a new electrolyzer stack factory, scheduled to become operational by the beginning of 2024. Drawing on the competence of the Volkswagen Group in serial production, the facility will feature a fully automated, state-of-the-art production line capable of fulfilling a significant part of future global demand.
