World’s First 5MW AEM Electrolyser to Deliver Cheaper Green Hydrogen, to be Deployed by Horizon by End of 2025

World’s First 5MW AEM Electrolyser to Deliver Cheaper Green Hydrogen, to be Deployed by Horizon by End of 2025

Horizon is redefining the viability of green hydrogen production, enabling lower-cost green hydrogen for sectors such as steel production, ammonia, methanol, and zero-emission transportation through its electrolyser subsidiary, HET Hydrogen. The first of the groundbreaking 5MW systems are currently being prepared for deployment with a subsidiary of Rockcheck Steel Group Co. Ltd., a leading industrial enterprise in Tianjin, China.

The collaboration with Rockcheck Steel is part of an integrated system of photovoltaics / hydrogen / hydrogen-enriched smelting, utilising a 17MW building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system and two 5MW (1000 Nm³/h) AEM hydrogen production systems. The green hydrogen produced will be injected into the gas pipeline for blast furnace operations at Rockcheck Steel Group, aiming to reduce coal consumption and carbon emissions. The world’s first electrolyser is expected to be operational around the end of 2025, accelerating and promoting sustainable hydrogen in the progressive decarbonisation of steel production, one of the most difficult-to-abate industry sectors.

As an important part of the global energy transition, the interest in hydrogen as a decarbonisation tool is high, but the cost of hydrogen has been a hurdle to widespread adoption. Horizon’s modular AEM system provides a convenient and cost-effective solution for large-scale production of green hydrogen, enhancing the transition to green fertilisers and green chemicals and the move to more sustainable heavy industry. Horizon’s AEM system reduces power consumption by 10–20% compared to traditional alkaline technology and will demonstrate a lower levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) than alkaline electrolyser systems. With the AEM equipment deployed on a large scale, the capital cost of AEM is also expected to challenge that of alkaline equipment, the key selling point of that traditional technology.

The successful completion of this project will pave the way for the deployment of Horizon AEM systems with renewable power projects around the world, providing more efficient hydrogen production from photovoltaic, wind, and other renewable power sources. It accommodates intermittent power input and improves the utilisation of renewable energy to produce green hydrogen at a cost as low as US$2/kg. This delivers highly competitive green hydrogen solutions for downstream applications such as green ammonia, green alcohols, hydrogen metallurgy, and transportation.

Green ammonia is the next target for meaningful validation of AEM electrolysis at scale, with increasing interest in ammonia not only as a hydrogen carrier but also as a direct fuel for gradual decarbonisation of power generation and global shipping operations. To that end, Horizon is currently collaborating with third parties to design a flexible green ammonia production scheme.

Horizon Fuel Cell and electrolyser subsidiary HET Hydrogen will continue to promote technological innovation in both green hydrogen production and its applications, with a mandate of improving the viability of the hydrogen economy.

World’s First 5MW AEM Electrolyser to Deliver Cheaper Green Hydrogen, to be Deployed by Horizon by End of 2025 - Hydrogen Central

World’s First 5MW AEM Electrolyser to Deliver Cheaper Green Hydrogen, to be Deployed by Horizon by End of 2025 - Hydrogen Cent