Discover 12 leading hydrogen electrolyzer manufacturers driving down the cost of production through innovative electrolyzers.
As the world hurtles towards a decarbonized future, hydrogen is emerging as a key energy carrier. Its clean-burning nature and versatility across sectors make it an ideal fuel for transportation, industry, and power generation.
However, a significant hurdle remains—the hydrogen electrolyzer cost issue. This concerns the cost of producing green hydrogen generated through water electrolysis using renewable energy sources.
This is where hydrogen electrolyzer manufacturers come in. They are pivotal in driving down production costs and accelerating the transition to a hydrogen-powered future.
The International Energy Agency projects that the cost of producing hydrogen from renewable electricity could fall by 30% by 2030.
This article will illuminate the companies leading the charge in making green hydrogen a commercially viable reality, from established players to emerging disruptors.
Hydrogen electrolyzer manufacturers are not one-size-fits-all. Three main types of electrolyzers exist, each employing a distinct approach: Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM), Alkaline, and Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOEC).
Each boasts unique advantages and caters to specific applications within the burgeoning clean energy landscape. Delving into these technologies is paramount to understanding hydrogen production’s current state and future possibilities.
PEM electrolyzers use a solid polymer electrolyte to separate hydrogen and oxygen.
They operate at lower temperatures (50-80°C) and can respond quickly to power fluctuations, making them ideal for integrating renewable energy sources.
PEM electrolyzers are compact and produce high-purity hydrogen, but they’re currently more expensive due to using precious metal catalysts.
Alkaline electrolyzers are the most mature and widely used technology.
These hydrogen electrolyzer manufacturers employ a liquid alkaline solution (potassium hydroxide) as the electrolyte.
at temperatures between 60-80°C, they’re less expensive than PEM systems but slower to start up and less flexible. Alkaline electrolyzers are well-suited for large-scale, continuous hydrogen production.
AEM electrolyzers operate at moderate temperatures (40-60°C) and use a solid polymer electrolyte that conducts hydroxide ions.
This technology combines features of both PEM and alkaline systems, allowing for the use of non-precious metal catalysts and potentially lower costs. AEM electrolyzers offer good efficiency and can operate at differential pressure.
However, the technology is still emerging and faces challenges with membrane stability and long-term durability. Ongoing research aims to improve performance and reliability.
AEM electrolyzers show promise for certain applications, influencing current research and development efforts in the hydrogen production industry.
SOECs operate at much higher temperatures (700-900°C) than PEM or alkaline electrolyzers.
This high-temperature operation allows for higher efficiency and the potential use of waste heat from industrial processes. SOECs can also run reverse as fuel cells, offering energy storage and conversion flexibility.
However, they’re still in the early stages of commercialization and face challenges related to durability and cost.
Each type has its advantages and is suited to different applications, influencing which technology manufacturers choose to develop and produce.
Here is our curated list of the leading innovative companies developing cutting-edge electrolyzer techniques:
Siemens Energy is one of the largest electrolyzer manufacturers in Europe, focusing on large-scale proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis technology. The company recently announced plans to expand its annual electrolysis capacity to 3 GW within a year, driven by growing demand for green hydrogen projects.
Siemens Energy has partnered with companies like Messer Group and Air Liquide to develop integrated hub concepts for green hydrogen production, targeting industrial and mobility applications.
Thanks to its short ramp-up time and dynamic controllability, Siemens Energy’s PEM electrolysis technology is highly compatible with intermittent renewable energy supply.
Due to its high energy density and small footprint, it is well-suited for the rapid ramp-up of the hydrogen industry.
The company has partnered with companies like Messer Group and Air Liquide to develop integrated hub concepts for green hydrogen production, targeting industrial and mobility applications. Siemens Energy’s new multi-gigawatt electrolyzer factory in Berlin utilizes automation and digitalization to supply stacks for its broad range of customers.
Siemens Energy has secured a contract with Cepsa to supply 100 MW of PEM electrolysis technology for green hydrogen production in Spain, complementing Cepsa’s plans for 2 GW of capacity by 2030. The company works closely with partners to offer comprehensive services for electrolyzer plants and energy assets along the entire hydrogen value chain.
In addition to PEM technology, Siemens Energy is also exploring the use of alkaline water electrolysis, as demonstrated in Cepsa’s “Green Hydrogen Valley” project. The two technologies will be combined to manage technology risk and ensure customer supply.
Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, Cummins has a strong track record of innovation.
It focuses on developing cleaner, more efficient power solutions to help its customers succeed in the energy transition and reduce their environmental impact.
With over 75,500 employees worldwide, Cummins operates a global network of manufacturing and distribution facilities, and provides a comprehensive range of services to support its customers in more than 190 countries and territories.
Cummins Inc. has developed a line of large-scale proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers called HyLYZER for utility-scale green hydrogen production. The HyLYZER is a modular and scalable platform designed to address the growing demand for low-carbon hydrogen solutions.
Key features of the HyLYZER electrolyzers include:
Cummins is also expanding its electrolyzer manufacturing capabilities, with plans to open a 500 MW per year facility in Spain, scalable to over 1 GW, to meet the growing demand for large-scale green hydrogen projects.
ITM Power is a leading manufacturer of integrated hydrogen energy solutions that utilize renewable energy to produce green hydrogen.
Founded over 20 years ago, the company has become a globally recognized expert in PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolysis technology.
ITM Power has scaled up its operations in recent years to meet the rapidly growing worldwide demand for green hydrogen as a key solution for decarbonization.
The company operates an advanced manufacturing facility in Sheffield, UK and is expanding its global presence, with a new office in Germany, to support the deployment of its industry-leading electrolysis systems.
ITM Power operates an advanced manufacturing facility in Sheffield, UK, and is expanding its global presence with a new office in Germany to support deploying its industry-leading electrolysis systems.
The company’s PEM electrolyzers are powered by renewable electricity and use water as the only input, with oxygen as the only by-product, making the hydrogen produced completely green.
ITM Power is currently engaged in several major industrial projects to demonstrate its technology capabilities, including the REFHYNE project, which installed Europe’s largest hydrogen electrolysis plant at Shell’s Rhineland Refinery in Germany.
The company has also partnered with gas networks in the UK on the HyDeploy trial to blend hydrogen into the natural gas supply.
Nel Hydrogen is a global, dedicated hydrogen company that has been developing and improving hydrogen solutions since 1927.
The company specializes in electrolyser technologies for the production of renewable green hydrogen, covering the entire value chain from hydrogen production to storage and distribution.
Nel serves industries, energy and gas companies with leading hydrogen technology, aiming to build complete, cutting-edge hydrogen infrastructure and unlock the potential of renewables.
The company is committed to addressing the climate crisis through innovative technology, continuously improving its products and investing heavily in research and development to optimize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of its hydrogen solutions.
Nel’s PEM electrolyzers use state-of-the-art technology in compact, easy-to-site forms. They operate at full differential pressure, with hydrogen over oxygen to prevent oxygen from entering the hydrogen stream.
Water is purified by reverse osmosis and deionization before entering the cell stack.
Nel is rapidly expanding its electrolyzer production capacity to meet growing global demand. In Norway, capacity is increasing from 40 MW/year to 500 MW/year, and eventually 2,000 MW/year. In the U.S., PEM capacity is expanding to 50 MW/year.
The company is investing in automation, efficiency improvements, and larger cell stacks to boost reliability and reduce costs.
Nel sees large opportunities for electrolysis within the existing hydrogen market, which currently only uses 1% electrolytic hydrogen.
Topsoe is a Danish company founded in 1940 by Dr. Haldor Topsøe. It specializes in technologies for reducing carbon emissions and enabling the global energy transition.
Topsoe’s main business areas include supplying technology, catalysts, and services for hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry, long-haul transportation, and clean fuel production.
The company is a leader in heterogeneous catalysis, contributing significantly to global ammonia production for fertilizers.
Topsoe is a leading provider of solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology for large-scale, high-efficiency hydrogen production from renewable electricity.
Topsoe’s SOEC technology can produce green hydrogen with up to 30% higher efficiency and 30% lower cost than conventional electrolysis.
Topsoe’s SOEC electrolyzers are highly scalable, with a 100 MW plant capable of producing 32,000 Nm3/h of green hydrogen.
This makes the technology well-suited for industrial-scale applications. The SOEC system can be integrated with existing heat sources to improve efficiency further and reduce hydrogen production’s carbon intensity.
In 2023, Topsoe announced plans to build the first advanced industrial-scale SOEC factory in the US to produce clean hydrogen. The company is also part of an alliance with ABB and Fluor to develop a standardized concept for SOEC electrolyzer factories.
Topsoe has demonstrated the long-term reliability of its SOEC technology with a 2,000-hour continuous operation test in an industrial setting.
