Battolyser Systems today announced that the first industrial-scale Battolyser system has been installed at RWE’s Magnum power plant. The installation is an important milestone for Dutch technology, contributing to a sustainable energy supply.
RWE’s Magnum power plant is one of the largest power plants in the Netherlands and will use the hydrogen produced by the Battolyser system to cool its generators. The technology that has been installed is the latest generation Battolyser. The cells are designed for systems with electrolyser capacity of 1 to 5 megawatts and as many megawatt hours of energy storage capacity. The realisation of the project was made possible thanks to a grant from the Wadden Fund and consortium partners Vattenfall, Ørsted, Yara, BASF and Pronton Ventures. RWE joined the consortium when the power plant was acquired from Vattenfall.
Marinus Tabak, Head of Central Asset Management at RWE: “It was a logical choice for us to invest in the first industrial-scale Battolyser system together with our consortium partners. We are increasingly investing in renewable energy sources and consider hydrogen an essential link in the energy transition. The technology of the Battolyser system enables a sustainable and more efficient energy system. In this way, we can reduce dependency on fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and efficient energy supply.”
Battery and electrolyser in one device
A Battolyser is a combination of battery and hydrogen generator (electrolyser) in one device. As a result, the system has the functionality of both an electrolyser and a battery. Once the battery functionality of the system is charged, the system can use the excess electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. That hydrogen can be used for industrial applications, for example, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When there are shortages on the grid, a Battolyser can also feed the stored electricity back to the grid, making the hydrogen produced greener and cheaper at the same time.
Mattijs Slee, CEO at Battolyser Systems: "RWE is an important partner for us. Thanks to the installation, we have been able to prove in real life that the unique functionalities of the Battolyser system are safe and can be implemented on an industrial scale."
The setup at RWE will be used to simulate long-term volatile price scenarios. While electricity prices remain low, the Battolyser will continue to charge and produce hydrogen but when prices rise, the Battolyser will immediately stop producing hydrogen and sell the stored electricity.
RWE investing heavily in hydrogen
Both alone and with renowned partners from industry and science, RWE is forging ahead with the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Europe through more than 30 projects along the entire value chain. As part of the GET H2 project, for example, the company intends to build its first industrial-scale electrolyser for producing green hydrogen at its Lingen site. Besides this, RWE is planning to build a hydrogen storage facility in Gronau-Epe – also as part of GET H2.
In addition to producing hydrogen at its own plants, RWE is ready to build and operate hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of around three gigawatts – once the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks are in place.