Together with representatives from politics and commerce, the official ground-breaking ceremony for a new factory of H₂ specialist H-TEC SYSTEMS took place in the Hamburg district of Rahlstedt. In future, the H-TEC SYSTEMS Stack Manufacturing & Development Center will combine stack development, production, testing and service at one single location and will be employing several hundred people over the long term.

As early as next year, production of PEM electrolysis stacks will be carried out there automatically providing a potential total electrolysis capacity of up to 5 gigawatts. The stacks form the heart of the PEM electrolyzers which are built at the company's headquarters in Augsburg. In addition, a customer and training center is planned where customers and interested parties around the world will be supported in successfully implementing H₂ solutions with maximum efficiency and safety.

Construction of the automated factory is part of the PEP.IN research project and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) via the H₂Giga lead project for H₂ generation. The aim of the project is to research new and innovative processes for the competitive and series production of PEM electrolysis stacks and electrolyzers in Germany to make green H₂ affordable and cost-effective. In addition to the proven S450 stacks, H-TEC SYSTEMS will also develop and produce a new stack generation with an enhanced performance in the Stack Manufacturing & Development Center.

With the new production site in Hamburg, H-TEC SYSTEMS is strengthening its position in the H₂ market as well as making a decisive contribution to the global H₂ initiative. “The need for H₂ solutions in industry is on the increase. With more than 11,000 square meters of space available for production and test procedures, we are ideally positioned to cover future product generations at our new location and thus effectively facilitate the global H₂ start-up," said Robin von Plettenberg, CEO of H-TEC SYSTEMS. "For a problem-free, highly available and cost-effective production of PEM electrolyzers and stacks, in addition to automated production processes, it is also necessary to align the corresponding supply chains to match the needs of electrolyzer and electrolysis stack production."

Together with the parent company, MAN Energy Solutions, H-TEC SYSTEMS made a conscious decision in favor of the new location in Hamburg and is thus clearly committed to Germany as a production location. The supply chains too, which are required for the stack production, are predominantly based on German and European supply company operations.

Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, said, "For a successful H₂ initiative, we have to scale up from stack manufacture to automated series production, and we are symbolically breaking ground for this today. I am very pleased that H-TEC SYSTEMS is at the forefront of this development. MAN Energy Solutions plans to invest €500 MM in electrolyzer production during the next few years in order to make H-TEC SYSTEMS one of the world's top 3 manufacturers."

The new building is being realized on a 35,000 square meter site in Victoria Park, a commercial area in the Rahlstedt district of Hamburg which is situated on the border with Schleswig-Holstein. H₂ expert H-TEC SYSTEMS is constructing a state-of-the-art and climate-neutral production and development site there on a total area of 18,000 square meters. The new building has a manufacturing area of 11,400 square meters. There are also 6,200 square meters for offices and social facilities as well as a 300 square meter roof terrace.

Photovoltaic systems with an output of up to 2 megawatts will be installed on the building and in the adjacent multi-story car park to generate renewable energy. Heat for the building will be supplied through the district heating network. Rainwater cisterns provide water for the green areas. The parking spaces for cars and bicycles come pre-equipped with e-charging stations.

The intention is for the property to be given platinum standard certification, which is the highest quality award given by the German Sustainable Building Council. A boulder wall is planned for company employees on the outside area. Near-natural recreation areas and a 300 square meter roof terrace cleverly round off the sophisticated design concept.

The project is being realized through a joint venture between Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH and the Jebens Group. The Hamburg-based real estate consulting company Grossmann & Berger, a member of German Property Partners, acted as an intermediary during the establishment of the joint venture and the leasing arrangement with H-TEC SYSTEMS. The general contractor in the project is Köster GmbH while the consulting firm, Drees & Sommer, supported the building and factory planning.

Finance Senator, Dr. Andreas Dressel said, “This inter-municipal commercial zone is an example of the excellent cooperation between Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. Together, we use our potential for business and trade along with creating future perspectives for future industries. Today's ground-breaking ceremony only goes to underline this. A climate-neutral new building is being built here in the overall context of Victoria Park whereby several hundred new jobs will be created in a highly-promising and future-oriented area. The project is also making an important contribution for establishing Hamburg as an important location for the H₂ energy economy in Germany. We look forward to many more companies following this example and wanting to settle in this innovative environment. Thank you to all of you involved from the business sector and authorities who have made this development possible.”