(Konstanz / Germany) – RCT GH GmbH (RCT Hydrogen) plans to begin manufacturing alkaline pressure electrolyzers in Thuringia in the first quarter of 2026. According to the company, a cooperation agreement has been signed with an unnamed "production partner" for this purpose.
Production line for electrolysis stacks. © RCT GH GmbH
The annual capacity is 250 megawatts (MW). The project will begin with a 2,5-megawatt electrolyzer, scheduled for delivery and commissioning in the third quarter of 2026 at a German industrial company (which has not been named). There is also a preliminary agreement for the delivery of two additional 2,5-MW units. Each unit comes with a 15-year performance guarantee, and RCT Hydrogen also offers a refurbishment program to extend the lifespan of the systems. RCT Hydrogen is also equipped to handle large-scale projects with a capacity of 100 megawatts.
Electrolysis stack with five megawatts of power. © RCT GH GmbH
The concept follows the "hydrogen-as-a-service" model. RCT Hydrogen handles hydrogen production at the customer's site, who then purchases the energy carrier at fixed prices. Further projects will be developed based on this model "in the coming months." "We have now taken the decisive step towards developing robust and durable electrolysis technology, which is necessary for the cost-effective production of green hydrogen in Germany," says Managing Director Peter Fath. While the price of hydrogen per kilowatt-hour is still about 20 to 50 percent higher than natural gas prices, this is offset by a CO2 price, which is currently around 83 euros per ton.
CO2 price for natural gas compensates for H2 price
“The switch from grey hydrogen to low-carbon or green hydrogen is particularly interesting for customers who already use hydrogen in their industrial processes,” says Eric Rüland, Vice President of Sales and Products. Especially if the previous hydrogen supply was via trailer, “the switch to the hydrogen-as-a-service model can offer cost advantages.”
RCT GH GmbH, headquartered in Konstanz on Lake Constance, is a joint venture between the RCT Group (51 percent) and the Chinese company Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy Technology & Equipment Co. Ltd. (49 percent) via its German subsidiary GF Hydrogen Europe GmbH. Guofuhee also supplies "many key components." The control components for the hydrogen production processes and the process software for electricity and energy flows are being developed in cooperation with Siemens Digital Industries. Eric Rüland: "We expect this to trigger a real hydrogen boom, as it enables industry to use hydrogen at reasonable prices, based on the electricity grid with 75 to 100 percent renewable electricity."
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Hydrogen-as-a-Service: RCT from Konstanz plans to deliver its first 2,5-megawatt electrolyzer in the third quarter of 2026. © RCT GH GmbH
