Enapter has signed a deal to supply a 1MW electrolyser to Italy’s Cogne Acciai Speciali, a manufacturer of stainless steel and nickel alloy products for various sectors.

The news follows another two Italian electrolyser orders in the first quarter of 2024: evidence that the country is one of the fastest growing hydrogen markets in Europe, the company states in a release.

The AEM Nexus 1000 multicore electrolyser will be operated at the Cogne plant in the Aosta Valley using solar and hydropower. Cogne plans to use the hydrogen produced on site for process heat applications in particular, to further decarbonise its production processes.

Enapter chief executive Jürgen Laakmann said: “Industrial companies, infrastructure service providers as well as countries and regions are increasingly focusing on energy self-sufficiency and the decentralised production of green hydrogen.

“Above all, the high flexibility in combination with solar and wind energy and the absence of expensive iridium speak in favor of our patented AEM technology. These advantages are leading to steadily growing market penetration.”

He added that the company’s sales pipeline “is full to bursting”.

In addition to the Cogne plant, Sangraf International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sanergy Group, has ordered two Enapter AEM Nexus electrolysers with a total capacity of 1.5MW.

Sangraf makes graphite electrodes for the smelting processes in the steel, iron and non-ferrous metals industries and is working on a solution for the local production of green hydrogen.

With the aim of reducing the proportion of natural gas in its production processes by 10%, Sangraf is currently building its own hydrogen production facility with a connected 2.6MWp photovoltaic system at its plant in the municipality of Narni.

The Aosta Valley and the municipality of Narni are among the 52 state-subsidised Hydrogen Valleys currently being created throughout Italy. According to the latest orders received, Enapter has already received orders for a total of seven AEM Nexus electrolysers with a total output of 6.5MW for various Hydrogen Valley projects in Italy.

Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan provides for total investment in the development of the hydrogen supply chain of around EUR 3.6 billion, of which EUR 500 million is earmarked for the creation of Hydrogen Valleys.

Projects for the production of green hydrogen have already been launched in several regions, including the construction of hydrogen routes and hydrogen production plants as well as hydrogen filling stations.

The establishment of nationwide hydrogen infrastructure in Italy opens up significant sales potential and further growth opportunities for Enapter.