Norwegian electrolyser manufacturer Nel revealed today (January 6) it has agreed with HH2E for a front end engineering and design (FEED) study and a Letter of Intent (LoI) for two 60MW electrolyser plants in Germany.

According to the two companies, HH2E’s electrolyser plants will be among the ‘largest’ green hydrogen production facilities in Europe announced to date and could be expanded in the future as HH2E looks to establish 4GW of electrolyser capacity in Germany by 2030.

Hydrogen produced at the sites is planned to be used for industrial applications, transportation, and heat.

“One of the prerequisites for reaching our growth ambitions is the sufficient availability of high-quality electrolysers in Europe, such as those that Nel will supply. We are very happy and confident with Nel’s technology and experience,” said Alexander Voigt, Co-founder and board member of HH2E.

H2 View understands HH2E plans to build hydrogen production capacity at a site in Lubmin / Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany, which it says could have capacity to produce up to 6,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2025, with hopes of expanding the site to up to 1GW, producing around 60,000 tonnes per year by 2030.

The FEED study will commence after a firm purchase order is made, Nel has said, with both parties intending to conclude a contract for the electrolyser equipment within the first half of this year (2023).

The signing of the LoI and FEED study comes on the same day that Germany’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Robert Habeck, Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Lien Aasland, and Minister of Industry and Trade, Jan Christian Vestre, are visiting Nel’s factory in Herøya, Norway.

“This shows the importance of the German market for Nel, and we are honoured that the Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Habeck, together with members of the Norwegian Government, want to visit our flagship facility today,” says Håkon Volldal.

Just yesterday, Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, and the German Vice-Chancellor announced the countries had agreed to strengthen their hydrogen partnership, with plans of establishing a large-scale pipeline between the two countries.

Read more: Germany and Norway strengthen ties, plans for large-scale hydrogen pipeline

In a press statement, Prime Minister Støre said the renewed partnership was intended to “accelerate the development of a functioning hydrogen market and value chain.”