Topsoe has inaugurated its first, and now Europe’s largest, solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) stack manufacturing facility in Herning, Denmark.
The new factory is poised to become a central pillar in Europe’s strategy to scale up high-efficiency green hydrogen production, a critical step for decarbonizing heavy industries.
Scaling green hydrogen technology:
The facility, which represents Topsoe’s single biggest investment to date, is initially designed to manufacture 500 MW of electrolyzers annually. The project received substantial financial backing, including a €94 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund, highlighting its strategic importance to the bloc’s climate goals.
The SOEC stacks produced here will be used to generate green hydrogen, which can then be converted into Power-to-X products like ammonia and methanol. The company projects a massive environmental impact: when fully operational in ten years, the factory’s output could service up to 10 GW of installed capacity globally. This will enable an annual reduction of 15 million metric tons of CO₂, equivalent to taking nearly 3.5 million gasoline-powered cars off the road.
A game-changer for decarbonization:
Roeland Baan, Chief Executive Officer, Topsoe, called the new facility a “game-changer for the energy transition,” emphasizing the technology’s efficiency as pivotal for scaling production.
This advanced technology is aimed at energy-intensive sectors such as steel, cement, chemicals, and long-distance transportation—industries that collectively account for approximately 30% of global CO₂ emissions.
Global impact:
The inauguration ceremony, held in Herning, was attended by numerous industry partners, customers, and Danish state representatives, including Morten Bødskov, the Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs.
“Topsoe turns knowledge into action and complex chemistry into real change—and their technologies make industries cleaner,” said Minister Bødskov. “This new factory is an example of what we need—Danish and European investments in green technology.”
Topsoe has already secured international offtake agreements for the new technology, including a commitment with First Ammonia for a green ammonia project in Texas, US, and another with Forestal for an e-methanol project in Spain. Both contracts include a 10-year service warranty program.
