The opening of the Quest One Gigahub in Hamburg will become the most modern, high-quality production facility in Europe. The MAN Energy Solutions subsidiary has officially launched its automated PEM electrolysis cell production facility. The opening was led by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, alongside important leaders from industry and politics.
Serial production of PEM electrolyzers
This new Gigahub introduces automated mass production of electrolysis cells based on proton exchange membrane ( PEM ) technology, a vital process in breaking down water into oxygen and hydrogen using renewable energy.
Batteries are the core of electrolysers, an important element for the production of green hydrogen. However, the automation of processes inspired by the automotive industry will allow the production time of a battery to be reduced by 75%, making it possible to manufacture each unit in less than an hour.
When fully operational, the plant is expected to produce more than five gigawatts per year in electrolysis capacity, which represents an increase in the availability of green hydrogen. This development positions Hamburg as a benchmark for the hydrogen economy in Europe.
H-TEC SYSTEMS is now Quest One
With the opening of this plant, the company previously known as H-TEC SYSTEMS officially changes its name to Quest One. For the company, the production of green hydrogen is considered important to achieve global climate goals, and the new plant aims to contribute to the reduction of 1% of global polluting emissions by 2050.
The importance of the inauguration was reflected in the participation of high-ranking officials, such as Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who stressed that the plant sends a strong message about Germany’s ability to industrialize green hydrogen production on a large scale.
” This breakthrough will reduce both production time and costs, enabling the acceleration of hydrogen growth in our economy ,” said Scholz. Peter Tschentscher, Mayor of Hamburg, emphasised the city’s role as an “international hydrogen hub” , supported by partnerships with global energy partners.
Guests included leading figures from politics and industry such as Till Mansmann, Hydrogen Commissioner at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Michael Kellner, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate, as well as private sector leaders such as Hans Dieter Pötsch, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG .
Automation technology in the new “Gigahub”
The plant covers an area of 26,000 m² in Hamburg’s Victoria Park industrial park and was completed in record time, just 18 months. It has been designed with sustainability in mind, with green roofs fitted with solar panels, and DGNB Platinum certification is planned for 2025, underlining the company’s commitment to green practices.
Green hydrogen and its relevance to the enterprise. Source: Quest One
The plant will initially employ 200 people who will focus on production, development, testing and service, all under one roof. It will also function as a customer service and training centre, accelerating the understanding and adoption of hydrogen technologies globally.
“We are inaugurating one of the most modern centres in the world for the production and development of electrolysers. Our goal is to lead the industrialisation of green hydrogen and become a central player in the fight against climate change. “, he stated.
Robin von Plettenberg, CEO of Quest One.
Automation is one of the key points of the Gigahub , with two production lines: “ Titan ”, a linear transport system, and “ Gerd ”, a series of rotary-arm robots. These names, inspired by the moons of Saturn ( which contains 95% hydrogen ), symbolize the plant’s connection to the hydrogen economy. This level of automation ensures precision and speed, while improving quality and optimizing logistics, achieving high-quality products with fast delivery times.
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Source and photos: Man Energy Solutions
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