Helen Oy will use the pilot plant to expand its expertise with large-scale hydrogen production and enhancing flexibility across the entire energy system. MAN Energy Solutions acting as EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) will responsible for the hydrogen section of the plant and the delivery of related equipment, alongside its installation and commissioning. The remaining part will be done in co-operation with Helen and Helen's engineering partner.
“The 3H2 project is the first of its kind in the world by combining four different sectors, electricity, heating, transportation and hydrogen as well as flexibility between them” said Sari Mannonen, Senior Vice President New business & Hydrogen at Helen Oy. “Our whole hydrogen team at Helen is very excited and proud of the cooperation with MAN Energy Solutions that is well known of its world class expertise in the industry.”
H-Tec Systems, a specialist in the supply of PEM electrolysis technologies and, from 30th September 2024, a subsidiary of MAN Energy Solutions operating under the name of Quest One, will supply three ME450 PEM electrolysers as the centrepiece of the plant. These will produce up to 1,350 kilograms of green hydrogen per day from green electricity generated by Helen’s renewable energy source portfolio.
Helen Oy is planning to deliver the hydrogen to a nearby hydrogen refueling station via pipeline and distribute it to industrial customers or other refueling stations using containers. The waste heat generated in the production process will be utilised in Helen’s district heating network.
“Green hydrogen is undoubtedly the key element for a climate-neutral future and the global economy will require it in large quantities” added Alexander Stöckler, Head of Sales, Tendering & Project Management, Power Segment at MAN Energy Solutions. “It is therefore most important that energy suppliers like Helen Oy lead the way by building plants and gaining valuable operational experience with hydrogen technology. We urgently need industrial production plants to achieve economies of scale, reduce costs and meet the huge future demand for hydrogen both efficiently and economically.”
At the core of the plant are the three PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysers from H-Tec Systems. Through the PEM process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen with the help of an electric current that is passed through a special membrane. Due to its high dynamics, PEM electrolysis is ideally suited for coupling with fluctuating renewable-electricity sources – such as wind and solar – and has clear advantages over alkaline electrolysis. PEM electrolysis also requires less electricity per kilogram of hydrogen produced, does not use any aggressive chemicals, and produces high-purity hydrogen that is suitable for direct use.
“By combining H-Tec Systems’ expertise in the field of PEM electrolysis with MAN Energy Solutions' broad experience in plant engineering, we can offer our customers a first-class package for the production of green hydrogen” said Robin von Plettenberg, CEO of H-Tec Systems. “We are very pleased that Helen Oy has placed its trust in our joint capabilities and is taking this important step into the future of hydrogen with us. With this plant in the vicinity of the Vuosaari Harbour, our electrolysers will produce green hydrogen in all Scandinavian countries and Finland. In this way, we are well on the way to laying an important foundation for a climate-neutral energy supply.”
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