Neuman & Esser expands site for hydrogen production

A new production line for PEM electrolysis plants is being built in Germany on an area of over six hectares. The company has newly developed 64,000 square meters at its site in order to manufacture all the equipment for hydrogen projects in Europe and neighboring markets in the future. The systems manufactured cover the entire process – from hydrogen production and compression to storage in salt caverns or filling in trailers. The plants are designed to supply both industrial applications and public transport systems with green hydrogen.

Neuman & Esser supplies complete hydrogen plants as EPC

The company sees itself not as an operator but as an equipment supplier to the hydrogen industry. Customers who want to set up a filling station or an industrial supply structure can obtain all the components they need from a single source. In addition to supplying individual modules, the manufacturer offers turnkey EPC projects – from electrolysis and compression to dispensers. A current example of this is a 10-megawatt trailer filling station in Jülich, around thirty kilometers from the company's headquarters. It is to be powered entirely by solar energy and serves as a reference plant for emission-free hydrogen production. The hydrogen produced there is filled directly into trailers and then delivered to customers in the transport or industrial sector.

Hydrogen systems with precise software-supported planning

Using specially developed software, the company can calculate exactly which plant configuration the customer needs as early as the planning phase. Based on specific operating data – such as the number of buses or trucks, their refueling cycles, and filling intervals – the performance of the electrolyzer, the volume of the storage tanks, and the dimensions of the compressors are determined. This allows a tailor-made system to be designed for each project that reliably covers hydrogen demand while remaining economical.

Example project in Jülich: Solar power and 10-megawatt plant as a showcase project

The project in Jülich is considered an important step for regional hydrogen supply. It combines the production of green hydrogen with direct distribution via trailers and provides the entire infrastructure, including buildings. The company acts as the general contractor here and demonstrates how a fully integrated system can be implemented. The energy comes from solar power, making the plant a prime example of the combination of renewable electricity generation and hydrogen production.

Political uncertainty slows down the hydrogen economy

Despite technical advances, the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure remains a sensitive issue. Numerous projects that were in preparation in Eastern Europe and other regions of Europe have been halted because promised EU subsidies have not been paid out. This has left many investors and manufacturers facing uncertainty. According to industry estimates, there is currently a lack of political consistency: subsidy programs are announced, but then discontinued after a short time. This inconsistency jeopardizes the economic development of a sustainable hydrogen economy.

Neuman & Esser calls for courage in the energy transition

The energy transition is considered irreversible, but it requires stable framework conditions. The manufacturer is investing considerable resources in new technologies and production capacities to drive the transformation forward. It is now crucial that politics and business pull together. Only if funding structures and approval processes are secured in the long term can investments take effect and prices fall in the future. With a growing supply of green hydrogen, the technology could also become economically viable – provided there is the courage to take the necessary steps consistently.