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Green hydrogen from North Rhine-Westphalia: Enapter builds mass production facility for electrolyzers in Saerbeck climate municipality

Enapter, a specialist in hydrogen technology based in Thailand, is building a mass production facility for electrolyzers for the production of green hydrogen in Saerbeck. Modular systems for the production of green hydrogen using AEM (Anion Exchange Membrane) electrolysis technology are to be built at its planned "Enapter Campus" in Münsterland. Construction of the factory is due to start in early 2021, with production scheduled to begin in 2022.

Minister of Economic Affairs and Digitization Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart: "The establishment of a new factory for hydrogen electrolyzers with up to 300 jobs shows that North Rhine-Westphalia is making further progress on its way to becoming a hydrogen state. In just a few weeks, the state government plans to present a roadmap for advancing hydrogen technology together with industry. This will enable us to massively reduce CO2 emissions and at the same time enable our companies to remain competitive in the future."

The state-owned economic development agency NRW.INVEST supported Enapter in its choice of location. The climate municipality of Saerbeck prevailed over 100 other locations initially considered by the company throughout Germany.

"As Europe's most important energy region, North Rhine-Westphalia is driving the energy transition forward with numerous projects. Here, Enapter will find an ideal infrastructure to implement its ideas for the efficient use of energy. The company will benefit not only from an innovative research environment, but also from the immediate availability of excellently trained specialists," emphasizes Petra Wassner, CEO of NRW.INVEST.

With the investment in Saerbeck, Enapter is increasing its current production capacity by more than 100,000 modular electrolyzers per year to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to climate-friendly hydrogen. The goal is to make green hydrogen economically competitive with fossil fuels worldwide and to provide it in the quantities needed worldwide. In addition, the production and operation of the campus will be sustainable, with zero-waste approaches and a facility for recycling old electrolyzers.

North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany's No. 1 hydrogen state. Minister President Armin Laschet and Economic Affairs and Digitization Minister Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart met with North Rhine-Westphalian CEOs and association leaders at a hydrogen strategy meeting on 12 October 2020 to discuss how the state government can support industry in advancing climate-friendly hydrogen technologies and supporting pioneering hydrogen projects. Further information on North Rhine-Westphalia as a hydrogen state can be found here: https://www.in4climate.nrw