Battolyser Systems and VDL Hydrogen Systems merge to develop first fully flexible industrial electrolyser

Clean energy tech innovators Battolyser Systems and VDL Hydrogen Systems have agreed to merge their activities into a single company to bring the first fully flexible electrolyser for large-scale industrial applications to market.

The merged company will develop and market the electrolyser with parent company VDL Groep as stack manufacturing partner. Pilot projects are ongoing with industrial customers, followed by full-scale demonstrations and commercial ramp-up thereafter.

Photo caption (from left to right): Mattijs Slee (Battolyser Systems) and Willem van der Leegte (VDL Groep). Image ©VDL Groep

The cost of green hydrogen still remains high for mass adoption, and further innovation and scale is needed to unlock the hydrogen economy. Both VDL Hydrogen Systems and Battolyser Systems are developing a novel pressurised alkaline electrolyser, with VDL Hydrogen Systems focusing on high capacity and Battolyser Systems on flexibility to deliver the lowest cost hydrogen. A joining of forces aims to significantly improve product competitiveness and the ability to deliver at scale to industries such as e-fuels, steel and grid applications.

Many electrolysers for industrial applications currently on the market cannot be easily turned on and off, requiring a load of 20 per cent or more to ensure safe operation. Fully flexible electrolysers offer a significant benefit by facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind, into the energy system. When wind is abundant, flexible electrolysers can convert excess power to hydrogen and inject it into a pipeline network. When there is little wind, these electrolysers can shut off, and customers connected to the pipeline network are supplied with stored or imported hydrogen.

Mattijs Slee, CEO Battolyser Systems, said: “Our technologies are complementary to each other and together we can develop a better product that can be delivered at industrial scale to our customers with VDL Groep as manufacturing partner.”

Europe is currently dependent on energy imports and needs to develop its own renewable energy sources. This merger can play a critical role in developing a European value chain to accelerate the energy transition and export products worldwide.

Willem van der Leegte, President and CEO of VDL Groep added: "The combination of competences will result in a much stronger position to develop a state-of-the-art, ‘made in Europe’ electrolyser that will enable customers to produce competitive green hydrogen at large scale. This is essential for the successful transition to a sustainable energy supply."

The merger is subject to the consent of the European Investment Bank and is planned to take effect in Q4 2025. Shareholders of Battolyser Systems and VDL Hydrogen will fund the merger on an equal basis and plan to continue supporting the company going forward.

For more information, visit www.battolysersystems.com and www.vdlgroep.com.