Rapid progress on installation of INNIO’s hydrogen production

29th March 2023

INNIO orders 2 electrolyzers for its hydrogen production plant in Jenbach

To convert green electricity to green hydrogen (H2) for its power-to-hydrogen-to-power project, INNIO has ordered two electrolyzers with a total capacity of 2 megawatts (MW) from H-TEC SYSTEMS. This represents a critical step in realizing the company’s sustainable hydrogen product strategy as part of which all new Jenbacher plants are already “Ready for H2” today. The entire Jenbacher engine product line is expected to be rolled out for 100% hydrogen operation as of 2025. At the same time, the supply of green hydrogen at the Jenbach site represents a milestone on the way to net zero operations on site.

The 2 MW system will be constructed in a containerized design that will be located on the premises of the Achensee power plant of Tiroler Wasserkraft AG (TIWAG). Its subsidiary TINEXT will build the necessary compressor and storage terminals. Locally produced hydrogen – a key enabler of the energy transition – will be transported by pipeline from the TINEXT compressor and storage terminals to INNIO’s primary operations in Jenbach.

At a system efficiency of 74%, the two H-TEC SYSTEMS PEM electrolyzers will produce up to 900 kg of green hydrogen daily to power the 2 MW Jenbacher H2 engines test bench. Thus, in addition to solar, battery, and hydropower, the primary operations can also be supplied with green electricity and heat generated from green hydrogen. At its INNIO360 Energy Lab in Jenbach, INNIO demonstrates how the energy transition of an industrial plant works.

“By ordering these electrolyzers from H-TEC SYSTEMS, we are taking the next important steps in further advancing INNIO’s pioneering role in green power generation. Supplying green hydrogen represents an important prerequisite for the sustainable, economical, and timely implementation of our hydrogen product strategy,” said Martin Mühlbacher, INNIO Vice President and Site Manager in Jenbach. “Using green hydrogen to generate electricity allows us to further reduce the carbon footprint of our Jenbach site.”

“At INNIO’s energy lab, our electrolyzers will be used to expand a more secure, economical and green energy supply with combined heat and power plants,” explains Tobias Fritsch, project manager at H-TEC SYSTEMS. “This technology is the backbone of the energy transition, since hydrogen – as in this case – can replace fossil fuels and, at the same time, can be stored for weeks and even months. We appreciate the trust that INNIO has placed in us and the opportunity to jointly realize this forward-looking project for Austria.”

The research project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and is being carried out as part of the research initiative " NEFI – New Energy for Industry" which is part of the Austrian innovation initiative "Vorzeigeregion Energie" (“Flagship region Energy”).