New electrolysis technology paves the way for local and flexible hydrogen production

Problem

Most of the hydrogen sector focuses on large, centralized plants, but this approach is space-intensive, costly, and tied to a power grid with inherent limitations and losses. There is a need for new solutions that can produce green hydrogen decentrally – closer to the energy source, such as onshore wind, farms, or offshore platforms. With increasing electrification and renewable energy production, the demand for flexible and mobile technologies that can utilize surplus power locally is growing.

Solution

In the Tower-2-X innovation project, Nordic Hydrogen, in collaboration with FORCE Technology, has developed and tested a new 2 kW electrolysis prototype. It is significantly smaller and lighter than conventional systems and built with fewer materials. Despite its compact design, it delivers hydrogen with the required purity and volume – paving the way for local hydrogen production independent of the central grid.

“We want to make it easier to produce green hydrogen right where the power is – bypassing the central grid and large, centralized plants,” says Sarah Groot Shapel, founder and CEO of Nordic Hydrogen.

The technology is flexible and scalable, and can be used on land or, in the future, integrated into offshore contexts such as wind turbine towers. In the short term, the goal is container-based solutions close to land-based energy sources.

Result

Tower-2-X has advanced the technology from TRL 2 to TRL 6, proving that decentralized and mobile hydrogen production is both technically feasible and commercially promising. The prototype has paved the way for the next step: the development of a 150 kW system designed to meet the needs of smaller power producers with surplus energy.

“Our ambition is to make green hydrogen production accessible to more players. It doesn’t require large factories, but a new approach with small, flexible, and scalable solutions,” says Sarah Groot Shapel.

The project has been supported by the EU and the Danish Board of Business Development and facilitated by Energy Cluster Denmark. Nordic Hydrogen has already applied for funding for the scaling phase through the Innovation Fund Denmark and Mission Green Fuels.