Bosch commissions in-house electrolyser

At the same time, the commissioning of the electrolyser in Bamberg marks the start of a new chapter: it is part of an entire hydrogen landscape built to demonstrate various ways of producing, storing, and using hydrogen. “Hydrogen plays a central role in a climate-neutral world, which is something we are committed to achieving as a society in Germany and Europe, and it is an ideal energy source. It can be produced, stored, and transported almost anywhere, and in a climate-neutral way”, said Dr Markus Heyn, member of the Bosch board of management and chairman of the Mobility business sector. “The official start of operations for our electrolyser and the opening of the hydrogen landscape here in Bamberg mark an important milestone for us.”

At the heart of the electrolyser, which was built by FEST, a company based in Goslar, Germany, are two Bosch Hybrion electrolysis stacks manufactured in Bamberg. Each of these stacks with a rated power of 1.25 MW produces around 23 kg/hour of hydrogen from water and electricity. At full load, the electrolyser can produce more than 1 tpd of hydrogen. That’s enough fuel for an electric 40-ton truck fitted with a Bosch fuel-cell power module (FCPM) to travel up to 14 000 km.

The Bamberg hydrogen landscape features just such an FCPM, equipped with a Bosch fuel-cell stack, in continuous operation inside a ‘lifetime container’ with a view to testing the module’s durability. The hydrogen to power the FCPM flows into the container from the electrolyser via a pipeline network. Here, the hydrogen-producing process that previously ran in the PEM electrolysis stacks is now reversed: hydrogen and oxygen are fed into the FCPM’s fuel-cell stacks, where they react to produce water and electrical energy. The electricity generated by the FCPM flows back into the electrolyser, where it is used both to test the electrolyser and to produce hydrogen locally. These around-the-clock tests inside the lifetime container simulate a wide range of usage scenarios to ensure the durability and reliability of the FCPMs. Large scale production of the FCPM started in Bosch’s Stuttgart-Feuerbach plant in mid-2023. It was recently nominated for the prestigious German President’s Future Prize.

“Bosch can do hydrogen, and at scale,” commented Thomas Pauer, President of the Power Solutions division. "We got involved in the area at an early stage, made upfront investments, and are now offering market-ready technical solutions. That includes our fuel-cell power module.”

Bamberg also has a second test station for the Hybrion PEM electrolysis stacks manufactured at the plant there. Before delivering stacks to customers, this is where Bosch ensures that they reliably achieve their performance and efficiency under real operating conditions. For example, various load profiles are simulated to test the reaction of each stack to electrical fluctuations. In addition, every Hybrion stack is activated before delivery so that it is immediately ready for use at the customer’s premises. Another feature of the hydrogen landscape is the 21-meter-high hydrogen tank, in which hydrogen from electrolysis can be stored at up to 50 bar.

Bosch has already reached its first milestones in electrolysis technology in 2025. Following the market launch in the spring, deliveries have begun to various customers and partners, including companies such as IMI, Kyros Hydrogen Solutions, Neumann & Esser, Pietro Fiorentini, and the latter’s subsidiary Hyter.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/05112025/bosch-commissions-in-house-electrolyser/