Senator Richard Blumenthal officially launched Nel’s expanded and automated proton exchange membrane (PEM) manufacturing facility in Wallingford, Connecticut, on Wednesday, October 23. The new plant will produce 10 times as many PEM electrolyzers at a 30 % cheaper cost than the previous factory.
Nel’s extended PEM manufacturing facility in Wallingford is officially opened
Video Credit: Nel Hydrogen
“Connecticut is a global leader in hydrogen because of companies like Nel,” Senator Blumenthal declared in his opening remarks.
“I’m very excited by Nel opening this new facility because it brings jobs and brains to the energy sector. This is our future. Hydrogen and fuel cells are going to be a vital part of our energy future in order to fight climate change,” he said after participating in a curtain drop to announce the expanded Wallingford facility.
Other speakers were Paul Lavoie, Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer, and Sunita Satyapal, Director of the United States Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
“Automating production facilities is the only way you are going to be able to compete on a global level,” Lavoie told the crowd.
“This isn’t about eliminating people’s jobs. It takes people and upskills them. It allows them to do more rewarding work,” he explained.
Lower Costs to Drive Increased Adoption
Nel’s modern and automated manufacturing plant improves its annual capability to produce PEM electrolyzers from 50 to 500 MW.
According to Håkon Volldal, President and CEO of Nel, the hydrogen business faces high production costs that must be drastically reduced to encourage acceptance.
“Developing Next-Generation PEM electrolyzers with our technology partner General Motors, we aim to cut costs by another 60% and reduce energy consumption by more than 10 percent,” Volldal told reporters.
The facility is projected to be ready for production in early 2025.
Senator Richard Blumenthal and Nel CEO Håkon Volldal. Image Credit: Nel Hydrogen
A station at the expanded facility. Image Credit: Nel Hydrogen
A station at the expanded facility. Image Credit: Nel Hydrogen
Kathy Ayers, Vice President of R&D at Nel Hydrogen. Image Credit: Nel Hydrogen
Event signage at the opening of the factory expansion. Image Credit: Nel Hydrogen
At Nel, safety is our number one priority. Image Credit: Nel Hydrogen
Nel CEO Håkon Volldal speaks on stage at the opening. Image Credit: Nel Hydrogen
This information has been sourced, reviewed, and adapted from materials provided by Nel Hydrogen.
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