Dutch electrolyser makers Battolyser Systems and VDL Hydrogen Systems have completed a merger announced last summer to become Alquion and bring the “first fully flexible electrolyser” to market.

The pair will merge all their business activities and more than 50 employees to develop the new systems (dubbed “Flexolysers”) in collaboration with industrial manufacturer VDL Greop — the parent company of VDL Hydrogen — which will carry out production and assembly of the stack.

Battolyser had announced plans in 2022 to build a 1GW factory for its unique “Battolyser” electrolyser/battery hybrid technology at the Port of Rotterdam, but it was never built.

The technology was designed to integrate a battery with an electrolyser so that it produces hydrogen from wind and solar power when prices are low, and sends electricity to the grid when prices are high.

The Flexolyser is based on different design architecture without battery capacity, however, a spokesperson from Battolyser told Hydrogen Insight.

Battolyser added: “The Flexolyser can be switched on and off easily, safely and without loss of performance. This offers a huge advantage for the integration of renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind, into our energy system.”

“When wind conditions are strong, a Flexolyser can convert excess electricity into hydrogen and inject it into the pipeline network. When wind conditions are low, a Flexolyser can be switched off, supplying customers with stored or imported hydrogen.”

Alquion claims its Flexolyser technology can reduce production costs of green hydrogen by up to 25% without additional network congestion, making the price of locally produced H2 competitive with imports — although imports of green hydrogen into the Netherlands are still largely theoretical.

Alquion plans to take an investment decision on a 500kW demonstration system at an industrial customer site in May this year, while preparations for a 5MW to 10MW production system have begun.

"The cost of green hydrogen is currently still too high. Innovation and scaling up are needed to accelerate the hydrogen economy,” said Alquion CEO Mattijs Slee, previously CEO of Battolyser.

“With this merger, we are bringing innovation and industrialisation together in the Flexolyser, allowing us to better serve our customers in industries such as chemicals, e-fuels, steel, and network applications.”

Source:HydrogenInsight