With a total investment of around 30 million euros, hydrogen pioneer Sunfire is starting series production of electrolysers. The Dresden-based company is automating the most important production step - the metallic electroplating of the cells, which are the heart of the electrolysers. This makes them more efficient, robust and durable. An expanded electroplating plant was inaugurated in Solingen on March 7, 2023 in the presence of high-ranking guests from politics and industry, including Mona Neubaur, Deputy Minister President of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Sunfire acquired electroplating specialist MTV NT GmbH in Solingen in January 2022 in order to bring the core process of manufacturing alkaline electrolyzers in-house. The company is now investing in the expansion of its new site and is also set to receive financial support for this via the "Important Projects of Common European Interest" (IPCEI) funding platform. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are also involved in the funding.
A state-of-the-art, fully automated 500 MW plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2023, and Sunfire is planning to expand in the gigawatt range in the future. Sunfire CEO Nils Aldag emphasized that his company is not starting from scratch, but is building on existing expertise and locations along the value chain. Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, commented on the opening of the new electroplating production line for electrolysis cells in Solingen with the words: "The plant in Solingen, which used to primarily manufacture for the mining industry, is thus being made fit for the future and is a great example of how traditional companies can find a promising business model in the hydrogen sector."
