New hydrogen center: ENERTRAG and Sunfire start cooperation to operate a 10 MW pressurized alkaline electrolyzer

Prenzlau/Dauerthal/Dresden, September 9, 2021 |The renewable energy company ENERTRAG and the electrolysis manufacturer Sunfire are expanding their cooperation. Both partners signed a cooperation agreement on the realization of an electrolysis test field in Prenzlau.

In the new ENERTRAG hydrogen centre to be built in Prenzlau, various electrolysers with a total output of up to 15 MW are to be set up, tested and operated. Among them is a pressurized alkaline electrolyzer of the new generation S+, which Sunfire will deliver for the first time in the order of 10 MW. In addition, the first hydrogen filling station in the Uckermark is being built at the Prenzlau site, which will be supplied with the green hydrogen produced on site in the future.

ENERTRAG will connect the hydrogen centre directly to the Uckermark integrated power plant, which has a renewable generation capacity of more than 600 MW, by means of its own power line. This guarantees that only renewable electricity is used for electrolysis. This is where the company’s 10 years of experience in the production of green hydrogen comes into play through the operation of the hybrid power plant.

The green hydrogen will be used for the mobility sector and in particular for local public transport in the region. ENERTRAG will be responsible for marketing the hydrogen produced, which can also be supplied to customers by trailer.

For Sunfire, the delivery of the 10 MW new generation S+ pressurized alkaline electrolyzer is an important step in consolidating its position as one of the world’s leading electrolysis companies. Due to an increased power density, the new system has an improved efficiency compared to the previous generation – as a result, green hydrogen can be produced even more efficiently and cost-effectively.

“With ENERTRAG, we have not only gained a new cooperation partner in the testing of our technology, but also another important customer,” emphasizes Sunfire CEO Nils Aldag. “The hydrogen center offers optimal conditions to validate our technological advancements due to the sufficient green electricity available. We have been able to prove our pressurized alkali technology in numerous industrial projects worldwide over the past decades. The new S+ generation is now set to set new standards.”

In addition to the 10 MW pressurised alkaline electrolyser, Sunfire is also installing further test rigs in Prenzlau for various electrolysis systems from the Sunfire product portfolio. Among them is the innovative high-temperature electrolysis, which is based on solid oxide technology (SOEC) and, by operating at temperatures of
850 °C is considered the most efficient electrolytic solution.

“The cooperation agreement with Sunfire is another milestone for our hydrogen centre in Prenzlau,” says Manuela Blaicher, head of the Power-to-X department at ENERTRAG. “For us, it is important that we produce our green hydrogen from regionally generated, renewable electricity, thus relieving the burden on the power grids and making good use of surplus electricity. We are particularly pleased about the opportunity to combine this with the testing of new technologies, the findings of which are important for the further energy transition.”

ENERTRAG and Sunfire are already working together on various other projects. This is also the case with the “Concrete Chemicals” project, in which work is being carried out together with the cement manufacturer CEMEX on reducing the_{CO2 footprint of} the cement industry by means of green hydrogen. The knowledge gained from the joint project will be incorporated into other hydrogen projects in the future.

About ENERTRAG

ENERTRAG provides all services related to renewable energies. We efficiently combine electricity, heat and mobility in all areas of life. As an energy producer with an annual electricity production of 1.7 million MWh and a service network that looks after over 1,125 wind turbines, we also know from our own experience what is important for our customers. With more than two decades of experience in Europe, our 680 employees combine all the skills required for successful operation and efficient maintenance, as well as for citizen-oriented planning and reliable construction of energy plants and grids up to complete interconnected power plants. We are always one energy ahead – be it in sector coupling, participation models or demand-based night-time labelling.

About Sunfire

Founded in 2010, Sunfire GmbH is a leading global electrolysis company that develops and manufactures industrial electrolysers based on alkali and solid oxide technologies (SOEC). With its electrolysis solutions, Sunfire addresses the key challenge of today’s energy system: the provision of green hydrogen and e-fuels from renewable electricity, water and CO₂ as a climate-neutral substitute for fossil energy. Sunfire’s innovative and proven electrolysis technologies enable the decarbonisation of industrial sectors that are currently still dependent on oil, gas or coal. The company employs more than 250 people at locations in Germany, Norway and Switzerland.