Clutching more new orders for its megawatt-scale anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers to be installed in Italy’s hydrogen valleys, Enapter AG exudes confidence about the future while embracing several new strategic and technical initiatives — several which expand application of its software systems for electrolyzer control and energy management:
- Befitting its heritage in the software business, at Hannover Fair in April it previewed new artificial intelligence software that will allow users to optimize their electrolyzers.
- With new orders recently placed, it now has megawatt-scale installations proceeding in ten hydrogen valleys in Italy.
- Focusing on stacks as its core technology, it has embarked on a program where partner companies can receive stacks to build locally their own megawatt-scale electrolyzers controlled by the company’s energy management software.
- Expansion into China with production of its electrolyzers there through a joint venture with energy products manufacturer Wolong, and now the two companies have introduced a battery-supported electrolyzer that ties Wolong’s batteries to Enapter’s stacks and system management software.
Enapter recently took in orders from four Italian companies for a total of 5.5MW, bringing the company’s penetration to 10 of Italy’s 52 hydrogen valleys. One of the new orders is for a total of 2.5MW from SOL, a chemical and medical company planning to build a hydrogen production plant for refueling and industrial applications. In addition, the three companies SOL S.p.A., Grastim JV S.r.l. and Magic Motor Sport S.r.l. have each placed orders for a 1 MW AEM Nexus 1000 units.
The energy company Grastim is planning to build a green hydrogen production plant for industrial purposes. Magic Motor Sport, a manufacturer of high-performance mechatronic solutions, will use its plant to feed test benches for technology development of automotive components. They bring to 17 the number of Enapter Multicore-Electrolyzers that have been ordered by 10 different companies for Italy’s hydrogen valleys. Headquartered in Germany, Enapter has a research and production site in Italy.
“We are delighted with these new customers, which represent a broad range of applications for green hydrogen,” said Dr. Jürgen Laakmann, CEO. “The future-proof scalability of our systems and the high flexibility and efficiency of hydrogen production using renewable energy sources such as solar plants, that generate electricity unevenly were convincing. Our order backlog is very well filled and continues to grow dynamically. This makes us very confident about our development in 2025 and beyond.”
Bringing AI to electrolysis
At Hannover Messe in April, the company unveiled its AI software that enables customers to further optimize the performance of their AEM electrolyzers. Artificial Intelligence analyzes the data from the measuring sensors installed in the electrolyzer, which record temperature, pressure and power consumption at various points.
The AI models are transmitted wirelessly to the electrolyzers and automatically optimize the performance of the end device. Multiple sensors on each stack also measure wear and tear and can determine the optimal maintenance cycle in comparison with similarly configured devices and site conditions. This predictive approach avoids costly breakdowns and increases the overall lifespan of each connected device.
By incorporating data from the connected energy sources such as PV systems and wind power, as well as additional components such as batteries, the overall energy management of the system can be improved. By predicting fluctuations in the availability of these fluctuating energy sources, the operation of the electrolyzers can be adjusted, improving overall sustainability and cost efficiency.
The new AI software is based on Enapter`s self-developed Energy Management System (EMS). Over the past six years, real data from 2.7 million operating hours has been collected from thousands of Enapter electrolyzers delivered worldwide. The devices, which are stationed in almost all climate zones, have provided extensive data for a large number of different applications.
Flash back to the jungle-clad hills of Chiang Mai, Thailand to see the origins of Enapter. The German software CEO Sebastian-Justus Schmidt had moved there to be closer to clients in 2004 – also the year the Italian firm ACTA was founded, focusing on R&D in fuel cell and AEM electrolysis. Years later, several of their prototypes went to the Schmidt family’s sustainable microgrid residence – the Phi Suea House. In 2015 it became the world’s first self-sustaining multi-house residence powered by a hydrogen-based clean energy system. In 2017, Schmidt acquired ACTA and renamed it to Enapter, co-founded with his son Jan-Justus and Phi Suea House veteran Vaitea Cowan.
Core partner strategy
In a recent strategy development, Enapter has established a core partner arrangement beginning with Dutch energy company Adsensys. Enapter will provide its stacks as core components for Adsensys to build its own electrolyzers in the megawatt range. Adsensys plans to implement the “AEMpowered” brand electrolyzers in hydrogen projects with a total electrolysis capacity of 10 MW for customers by 2026. They will be controlled by Enapter’s EMS software which will be licensed and labeled for Adsenys as part of the partnership. Enapter expects the first revenues from stack sales for the partnership to be realized this year.
“Our first core partnership is only a short time after our strategy adjustment and is clear evidence of the growth course we have embarked on,” notes Laakmann. “Enapter is fully focused on its core competence of stack production, while third-party suppliers can use our technology to build their own electrolyzers.”
Expansion in China through joint venture with Wolong
Building on its recently formed joint venture with Wolong to expand production and market penetration in China, Enapter has now fashioned an expansion to the product range by offering supporting battery solutions from Wolong. Lithium-ion batteries from the Chinese partner with a capacity from 150 KW up to several megawatts are used. The entire system is controlled by Enapter’s energy management system, which includes the energy-generating system as well as the battery components and the electrolyzer.
The combination of battery technology and hydrogen production increases the continuous stability of the energy supply and makes use of energy peaks. As the battery releases or absorbs energy as required, the electrolyzer can be operated more efficiently overall under optimized conditions. In addition, the batteries ensure load balancing by storing excess energy from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy at peak times and then using this energy to operate the electrolyzer with a time delay when energy production is low but demand is high.
“With the possibility of using our electrolyzer in combination with batteries, we are creating the best of both worlds, constant green hydrogen production even when renewable energy sources are not available,” comments Laakmann. “By storing electricity in the batteries, the running time of the systems is significantly extended and costs are reduced. Our innovative energy management system ensures the perfect balance and the right interaction between electrolyzer and battery.”
For more info, see www.enapter.com.
