Everfuel starts producing green hydrogen at Europe’s largest electrolyzer

The biggest electrolyzer in Europe began producing green hydrogen. Denmark-based Everfuel said the start of the commissioning phase for its 20 MW HySynergy facility went as planned and that commercial operation is scheduled to be launched by mid-2023.

Hydrogen was produced from the first set of electrolyzer stacks as part of the planned start-up and testing of production equipment at the 20 MW HySynergy facility in Fredericia, Denmark. The start of the commissioning phase was executed according to plan, confirming that the electrolyzer, power supply and ancillaries operate as intended, its operator Everfuel said.

The company added that the small amount of hydrogen produced was safely vented into the atmosphere with no environmental impact.

The initial production is the first step towards ramping up the electrolyzer system to supply green hydrogen to customers seeking to decarbonize industrial processes, such as the adjacent Crossbridge Refinery, and to customers seeking clean fuels for zero-emission mobility, according to Everfuel, based in Herning, Denmark.

Capacity envisaged to grow to 1 GW by 2030

Commercial production is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2023, subject to relevant approvals by the country’s authorities, the firm said and pointed out that HySynergy is currently the first large-scale power-to-X (PtX) facility there.

Everfuel plans to add a test facility of up to 10 MW, expected to be operational during 2023. It is intended for electrolyzer manufacturers to test equipment.

The project has just received EUR 33.1 million from the Danish government under the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) program for the first of three 100 MW additional sections for the production of green hydrogen. The company said it would complete them by the end of 2025 and grow to 1 GW in total by 2030.

Grant approved also for hydrogen fueling stations for road vehicles

Furthermore, Denmark earmarked EUR 80.7 million in IPCEI funding for the Green Fuels for Denmark PtX project for green hydrogen, led by Ørsted. Everfuel participates as the distributor of zero-emission fuel for road transportation. The funds are for three facilities, with 10 MW, 100 MW and 300 MW in capacity. A share will be used to part-finance two Everfuel fueling stations.

To be called green, hydrogen needs to be produced using electricity from renewable sources. The term clean hydrogen, on the other hand, is usually reserved for the result of electrolysis powered by any zero or near-zero carbon technology, including nuclear energy. But for the time being, almost all hydrogen is being produced directly from fossil fuels.