Austrian machine industry technology group ANDRITZ has opened its new electrolyser gigafactory in Erfurt, Germany. The new facility has an initial annual production capacity of approximately one gigawatt, corresponding to approximately 160 to 200 electrolysers annually.
Essential elements to produce green hydrogen have been manufactured at the facility since March. This includes electrolyser cell stacks and phase separators, which subsequently undergo pressure testing and quality assurance. The output can be adjusted flexibly based on customer demand.
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ANDRITZ CEO Dr Joachim Schönbeck said: “With this gigafactory, we not only support our customers in mastering the green transition, but also get closer to our goal of being a leading provider of innovative, economically viable solutions here. At our site in Erfurt, we benefit from the existing infrastructure and look back on over 125 years of expertise in heavy machinery construction. This gives us the best conditions to produce electrolysers on a large scale.”
ANDRITZ already employs 350 people in Erfurt and will hire nearly 100 more at the electrolyser gigafactory in the future. The company has a historical presence in the German city, where it has been producing presses for many years. The existing infrastructure provides a solid foundation for the efficient production and transport of electrolysers.
The electrolysers are based on the latest technology from ANDRITZ’s partner HydrogenPro. The first electrolysers produced at the facility are destined for Salzgitter AG’s 100 MW hydrogen plant for low-CO2 steel production. All green hydrogen products made in Erfurt are CE-certified and meet European safety and performance standards.
Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH chief technology officer Gerd Baresch said: “ANDRITZ is an important partner for us on our way to low-CO2 steel production. For the decarbonisation of our processes and products, we have defined a clear mission for us with the motto ‘Partnering for Transformation’: to take responsibility for society and future generations together with partners. The 100 MW electrolysis plant that we are now building together with ANDRITZ will enable us to produce hydrogen independently and will therefore contribute to the production of sustainable products at the Salzgitter site in the future.”
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By GlobalDataInternational technology group ANDRITZ provides advanced plants, equipment, services, and digital solutions for a wide range of industries, including pulp and paper, metals, hydropower, environmental, and others. Headquartered in Austria, the publicly listed group employs about 30,000 people at 280 locations in over 80 countries.
