Stellantis Increasing Production of Fuel Cell Commercial Vehicles in France and Cummins Constructing a New Electrolyzer Plant in Spain

Cummins Set to Commence Construction of 500 MW Electrolyzer Plant in Spain

Market Impact Factor: Medium

Jannat Wasif | Junior Analyst – Hydrogen

Cummins is all set to start the construction of its new gigawatt electrolyzer manufacturing plant in Guadalajara, Spain, which reaffirms the company’s commitment to expanding the green hydrogen economy in Europe and globally. Spain was selected last year as the optimal site of a new proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer plant. Earlier this year, the company purchased more than 530,000 sq. ft. of land in the industrial area of Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha, where it is now preparing to commence the construction of this plant which, is expected to become operational in 2023. The facility will have the capacity to produce 500 MW of electrolyzers per year, scalable to more than 1 GW per year. It will initially create 150 jobs, with the potential to add another 200 jobs as production continues to grow. With the support of the Spanish government and the European Union, Spain’s hydrogen market has great potential due to which Cummins is investing in this country. This facility will enable Cummins to help European customers transition their energy supply and meet ambitious sustainability goals as well as contribute towards achieving the company’s own carbon neutrality targets. By contributing towards meeting the demand for hydrogen generation technology, this facility will help in accelerating the role of hydrogen as a viable alternative energy source in Europe.

The company has also recently announced plans to establish a 500 MW electrolyzer factory in Minnesota, US, as well as expand the capacity of its electrolyzer plant in Belgium to 1GW. Cummins has been a part of many of the world’s hydrogen “firsts” and has deployed more than 600 electrolyzers in 100 countries globally up till now.

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Stellantis Considers Fuel Cell Transporter Production

Market Impact Factor: High ?

Abdul Haseeb | Junior Analyst – E-mobility

Stellantis has announced that it would begin serial production of fuel cell versions of Peugeot, Citroen, and Opel light commercial vehicles at a site in France. Until now, fuel cell vans were only available in a limited number. According to the firm, manufacturing of light commercial vehicles with fuel cells of the Peugeot Expert, Citroen Jumpy, and Opel Vivaro models will be increased due to significant investments of €10 million in the Hordain factory and financial help from the French government. The French government is providing such help to meet the targets of 5,000 light-duty fuel cell vehicles (cars and commercial) by 2023 and 50,000 by 2028.

These vehicles will be built on the site’s multi-energy line, which already manufactures electric and combustion engine variants. The plant is anticipated to have a capacity of 5,000 automobiles per year by 2024. Previously, a battery-electric vehicle was constructed in Hordain and then transported to Opel Special Vehicles in Russelsheim. The BEV powertrain was removed and replaced with a fuel cell powertrain in a small series (up to 1,000 units per year). Opel staff were able to convert several hundred units each year in the 15,000-square-meter production facility. The fact that it was found that this procedure could not be cost-effectively executed for bigger quantities. Stellantis stated earlier this summer that the experience obtained in Russelsheim, Germany, would be used for future series production at other plants, which is now taking place.

The approach in Hordain is now changed, albeit additional steps are still required for the hydrogen versions. The fuel cell models’ platforms are already integrated into the plant’s body shop. These models will then go through the usual stages of paintwork and assembly, on the same production line as combustion engines and electric vehicles, before entering the new 8,000-m2 facility dedicated solely to final tuning.

From here on, the paths of the combustion engine and electric differ again compared to the FC vans as these enter a new 8,000-square-meter facility dedicated entirely to their final production. There, specially trained employees will then install the hydrogen tank, the battery and the fuel cells in the bodies prepared for this purpose, the platform for this has already been used in body construction. The new process is expected to halve the time needed to adapt the model compared with the Russelsheim small-series production.

In addition, with the launch of the fuel cell vehicles, Stellantis is providing an insight into the current demand for zero-emission vehicles, 43% of the vehicles produced in Hordain are already electric. In addition to BEV versions of Opel, Citroen, and Peugeot vans, sister models from Vauxhall, Fiat, and Toyota are manufactured there.

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Delayed Shore Power Project in Italy Finally has a Supplier

Market Impact Factor: Medium

Mustafa Mirza | Junior Analyst - New Energy

The Western Ligurian Sea Port System Authority has awarded the tender for the design and construction of a shore-to-ship power system at the Port of Savona’s Cost cruise terminal, more than a year after it was announced. The tender which was floated in 2021 has been won by a consortium of companies led by Nidec ASI which will provide the system a design phase comprising 120 days and the implementation or construction phase of a further 1 year from the announcement.

About EUR 9 million of funding has been channeled into this project which is part of a greater transformation planned for the Western Ligurian Sea Port System Authority to become more environmentally friendly and to increase its competitiveness by expanding port services and upgrading existing infrastructure. This particular port authority which is the largest port system in Italy in terms of cargo volumes, passenger volumes, and economic value operate the following ports:

1. Genoa

2. Savona

3. Pra

4. Vado Ligure

The European Investment Bank is financing this project by lending EUR 300 million to the port authority as part of Italy’s recovery and resilience package which will see the building of facilities in all the ports mentioned above and the adoption of shore-to-ship power as well so that the port can meet its decarbonization targets. This financing brings the total EIB support for Italian ports to over €1 billion which makes the EIB a leading financier of the Italian port authority, backing a strategic sector for Italian and European connectivity and economic development. A similar project at the Port of Genoa is also in the works which will see the installation of shore to ship system for ferries. The funds coming from EIB have proven to be essential for undertaking large-scale projects in Italy and it’s safe to say more similar projects will be put into action under the recovery and resilience package as many Italian ports are in need of a major infrastructure overhaul in the coming years.

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