New Energies, new possibilities

• Schaeffler’s hydrogen electrolyzer makes industrial production more sustainable
• Expanded hydrogen portfolio covers the entire hydrogen value chain
• Schaeffler bipolar plates with Enertect coating make hydrogen applications even more powerful

The Motion Technology Company Schaeffler is showcasing innovative technologies for the future field of hydrogen at the Hannover Messe. The company takes a holistic view of the hydrogen value chain and, with its decades of product expertise, offers solutions for both the production and use of this sustainable energy carrier. At the Hannover Messe, Schaeffler will present electrolyzers with outputs of up to 1 megawatt, as well as fuel cell stacks and bipolar plates featuring the innovative Enertect coating. This multi-award-winning coating is free of precious metals and excels in hydrogen applications due to its exceptional electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance.

“Schaeffler’s goal is to drive the energy transition and thus the decarbonization of various industrial sectors,” says Florian Windisch, head of the Hydrogen business unit at Schaeffler. “To achieve this, industrial-scale production of green hydrogen is crucial. At Schaeffler, we focus on the entire hydrogen value chain – from production via electrolysis to the use of hydrogen in fuel cells.”

Electrolyzers for industrial applications

At the Hannover Messe, Schaeffler will demonstrate how the use of green hydrogen in production can contribute to the energy transition in the industrial sector. At the heart of the display is a 1-megawatt electrolyzer capable of producing around 450 kilograms of hydrogen per day. Schaeffler’s product range includes Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer stacks with scalable outputs ranging from 50 kW to 1 MW. Smaller electrolyzers are also available without membranes, making them ideal for research and development projects.

A key advantage of Schaeffler’s electrolyzer is its robust design, which enables a high power density due to a large active cell area. These characteristics make PEM electrolyzers highly versatile and particularly suitable for demanding applications where efficiency and reliability are essential. They can be integrated into hydrogen production systems on a small, medium, or large industrial scale – from decentralized commercial applications to hydrogen production linked directly to renewable energy sources, as well as hydrogen supply and refueling systems.

The entire manufacturing process for the metallic bipolar plates takes place in-house at Schaeffler. Picture: Schaeffler AG

Innovative fuel cell stacks and bipolar plates
Another element of the hydrogen value chain is the use of hydrogen. Schaeffler is presenting an innovative fuel cell stack that, despite its low weight of less than 0.5 kg/kW, offers a particularly high power density for e-mobility applications. The fuel cell stack features an advanced bipolar plate coating system that can be customized to meet specific customer requirements. The company has also developed the Enertect coating family, which can be used in both electrolyzers and fuel cell systems. Enertect is free of precious metals and offers extremely high corrosion resistance. The coating reduces the CO2 footprint of the bipolar plate by more than 75 percent and significantly increases the efficiency of both fuel cells and electrolyzers. The entire manufacturing process for the metallic bipolar plates takes place in-house at Schaeffler.

Schaeffler at the Hannover Messe
Schaeffler’s innovative hydrogen technologies will be on display at the Hannover Messe from March 31 to April 4, 2025, in Hall 5, at Booth D18. Additionally, Schaeffler will have a dedicated hydrogen booth located in Hall 13, at Booth E41/1. As part of the Schaeffler program, a presentation titled “Metallic Bipolar Plate Production: Challenges & Mitigation Strategies” will take place on April 2, 2025, at 1:45 p.m. This event is part of the “Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe” program in Hall 13, Booth A30.

Power to Hydrogen has closed a $20M+ Series A funding round with strategic investments from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines—via its corporate venture capital arm MOL Switch LLC—and Karpowership’s innovation division, Kinetics. The funding will support the commercial launch and scaled production of Power to Hydrogen’s proprietary Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzer systems, designed to deliver affordable, efficient green hydrogen at scale

Columbus, OH--Power to Hydrogen, a leading innovator in advanced electrolysis systems, is announcing a strategic investment from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, through its corporate venture capital arm MOL Switch LLC, and Karpowership through its new technologies arm Kinetics, to complete an oversubscribed Series A round. This investment will enable the company to begin deploying commercial electrolysis systems and expand production capacity for its proprietary Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzer technology. Including this investment, the total oversubscribed Series A round secured over $20M in funding for Power to Hydrogen.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Karpowership’s participation highlights the increasing demand for hydrogen, e-methanol, and green ammonia as zero-carbon shipping fuels and Power to Hydrogen’s commitment to providing accessible hydrogen solutions.

The investment will specifically support:

• Expanded Project Delivery Capabilities: Scaling up production and operations teams to meet the increasing demand for Power to Hydrogen’s electrolyzer systems.
• Global Market Expansion: Growing Power to Hydrogen’s reach and establishing a stronger presence in key markets where hydrogen is needed, such as sustainable fuel production.

Power to Hydrogen’s AEM electrolyzer technology is designed to produce hydrogen from behind the meter renewable electricity with lower-cost electrolyzers, which is a key area of focus for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Karpowership. Power to Hydrogen’s AEM electrolyzer technology offers high performance at a lower cost by using abundant materials. These advantages are critical to driving the cost of sustainable maritime fuels down, such as e- methanol and green ammonia.

This investment comes at a crucial time as the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) is driving towards the adoption of measures to reduce international shipping emissions by 70-80% by 2040. The IMO is considering a maritime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pricing mechanism for international shipping. The key purpose of the mandatory GHG charge will be to reduce the cost gap between zero/near- zero GHG emission (ZNZ) fuels (such as e-methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen) and conventional marine fuels, to incentivize the accelerated uptake of green energy sources.

“This strategic investment from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Karpowership is a promising step towards producing lower emissions shipping fuels.,” said Paul Matter, Co-Founder and CEO at Power to Hydrogen. “With the increasing pressure to decarbonize shipping and the IMO’s initiatives to promote zero-emission fuels, we see a significant opportunity for green hydrogen, e-methanol, and green ammonia to become the dominant fuels of the future. Our electrolyzers offer a cost-effective and scalable solution to meet this growing demand.”

“We are pleased to invest in Power to Hydrogen as a strategic partner. Green hydrogen will play a key role in the energy transition and Power to Hydrogen’s innovative technologies contribute to making it more cost-competitive and scalable. MOL is committed to decarbonizing the maritime industry and advancing the clean energy supply chain. This partnership aligns with our vision for a sustainable future and strengthens our efforts in next-generation fuel adoption. We look forward to working together to drive innovation and accelerate the transition to clean energy” said Tomoaki Ichida, CEO at MOL Switch.

“We are thrilled to announce this strategic investment partnership, marking a critical milestone in our continued legacy of innovation as well as our ambition in new technologies and the future of our business and, eventually, for our planet. As one of the leading energy transition names with the largest Powership fleet in the world, we are committed to not only providing power solutions for today but also future-proofing tomorrow’s grids. We know that the need for reliable power increases every day and we are responsible to address that demand in the most sustainable ways possible. Taking our first venture capital investment into hydrogen electrolysis together with our long-standing partner MOL’s VC fund MOL Switch, also represents our commitments in “Partnerships for the Goals.” said Mehmet Katmer, General Manager of Karpowership’s new clean technology arm Kinetics.

Power to Hydrogen’s previously announced Series A funding round was led by Rev1 Ventures and strategic investor Worthington Enterprises, a designer and manufacturer of market-leading brands in building products, consumer products, and sustainable energy solutions. The round previously included Finindus, JERA, Asahi Kasei, American Electric Power, EDP Ventures, E.ON, ESB, FH Capital, and INP Capital.

About Power to Hydrogen

Power to Hydrogen is a designer and manufacturer of advanced electrolysis systems based in Columbus, Ohio. The company’s innovative AEM electrolyzer technology offers a low-cost, high-performance alternative to existing options for producing clean hydrogen. Power to Hydrogen’s systems are designed for easy installation and integration with renewable energy sources, enabling companies to produce “green” hydrogen efficiently. Power to Hydrogen’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy by providing reliable, cost-effective, and accessible hydrogen solutions.

Power to Hydrogen Secures Strategic Investment