8613480627251According to Hydrogen Central, thyssenkrupp nucera—a supplier of water electrolysis technology for hydrogen production—is establishing its first company-operated central assembly center for electrolyzer cells at VGP Park Vila Nova de Gaia, located south of Porto, Portugal. The project aims to advance the automation of cell assembly, boost production efficiency, and further strengthen the European hydrogen value chain.
The company has signed a lease agreement for a facility spanning over 7,500 square meters. The project represents an investment of between €10 million and €14 million, with approximately €3.7 million in funding provided through Portugal’s COMPETE 2030 program.
I. Centralized Assembly and Automated Production to Increase Cell Capacity
Initially, the new center will focus on the assembly of cells for alkaline water electrolysis systems. The project includes the installation of a standardized, semi-automated assembly line, enabling the parallel processing of multiple cells, which will shorten assembly cycles and increase overall production capacity.
Werner Ponikwar, CEO of thyssenkrupp nucera, stated that this centralized, semi-automated assembly model marks a significant step toward enhancing production efficiency. Beyond expanding capacity, the center will facilitate a tighter integration between cell assembly and downstream services, underscoring the company’s ongoing commitment to European industrial manufacturing and the development of the hydrogen economy.
II. Assembly Operations to Begin in 2028, Supporting European Hydrogen Projects
Construction of the assembly center is scheduled to commence in the winter of 2026, with cell assembly operations expected to begin in 2028. Once completed, the facility will serve water electrolysis projects across Europe and the surrounding regions. The Onuba green hydrogen project—developed by the Spanish company Moeve—is expected to be among the first to benefit from this facility.
By centralizing assembly, customers are spared the need to build their own comprehensive cell assembly infrastructure, thereby reducing the resources required for facility planning, staffing, and production logistics. Furthermore, by delivering fully assembled cell components directly to project sites, the center is expected to reduce on-site installation complexity, improve project delivery efficiency, and accelerate the readiness of equipment for commissioning. The center will also provide ongoing support for the maintenance and replacement of cell components throughout the operational lifecycle.
III. Transitioning from Decentralized Assembly to Standardized Production Lines
Previously, the "Scalum" standardized alkaline water electrolysis units from thyssenkrupp nucera—based on a 20 MW modular design—relied on customers to assemble cell components in decentralized workshops before transporting them to project sites for installation.
This decentralized, manual-intensive assembly approach often resulted in longer assembly cycles for individual cells and constrained overall production capacity.
With the new center in operation, the company will consolidate these processes into its own assembly facility. By utilizing production-line layouts and automated equipment, the facility will enable the simultaneous processing of multiple cells. This model is expected to shorten production cycles, improve assembly consistency, and enhance the capacity to deliver large-scale electrolyzer projects.
IV. Extending the Centralized Assembly Model to Electrolyzer Maintenance and Replacement
This investment represents more than just an expansion of production facilities; it reflects a broader industry shift toward the standardization, modularization, and large-scale manufacturing of water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment. As more electrolyzer projects are constructed and commissioned, activities such as ongoing maintenance, component replacement, and the handling of decommissioned equipment will become critical segments of the value chain.
It should be noted that the cells, electrodes, and other internal components of alkaline water electrolysis equipment vary depending on the specific technical approach and product design. When equipment undergoes maintenance or reaches the end of its service life, determining whether it contains titanium anodes or electrodes with precious metal coatings requires an assessment based on the specific equipment structure and bill of materials.
Dongguan J&F Precious Metal Trading Co., Ltd. specializes in the recovery of industrial precious metal scrap. The company provides assessment and recycling services for materials recovered from dismantled electrolyzers—including titanium anodes, titanium mesh, and titanium plates—as well as electrodes coated with precious metals such as platinum, ruthenium, and iridium. If you have decommissioned electrolytic cells or bulk electrode scrap available for recycling, please provide details regarding the equipment's original use, photographs of the materials, quantity, actual weight, and any available composition analysis data so that we may conduct a preliminary assessment. The final recycling plan and price quote will be determined based on the verification and testing of the materials.
