Enapter starts AEM stack production in China to cut costs
Enapter has started producing anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyser stacks at a new manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, China, as the German hydrogen technology company accelerates its shift towards a more asset-light business model.
The first stacks have already been assembled and are ready for delivery, with the units designed for Enapter’s megawatt-scale electrolysers. Production is currently being ramped up, with the company expecting the targeted output to be reached within weeks.
The manufacturing partnership with Runqing Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. is intended to give Enapter greater flexibility to increase or reduce production in line with market demand while lowering the fixed costs associated with its manufacturing operations.
Runqing is part of the Runshihua Group, a Chinese cleantech company with expertise in hydrogen technology and industrial decarbonisation. Its automated production facilities are being used to manufacture Enapter’s AEM stacks to the required specifications and at volumes that can be scaled according to demand.
AEM technology uses an anion exchange membrane to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. Enapter has developed its AEM technology as an alternative to more established electrolyser technologies, with applications ranging from smaller systems to industrial-scale hydrogen production.
The Shenzhen production line was established specifically for Enapter’s stacks, allowing the company to expand manufacturing capacity without making the same level of investment in fixed production infrastructure.
Enapter expects the move to partner manufacturing in China to reduce its fixed cost base and improve earnings from 2027. The company sees the ability to scale production according to demand as particularly important as the global hydrogen market develops.
“The production start in Shenzhen is an important milestone in the implementation of our asset-light business model,” said Dr Jürgen Laakmann, CEO of Enapter. “Together with our partner Runshihua, we have created the conditions for scalable series production in a short space of time.”
Laakmann said the new manufacturing arrangement would allow Enapter to produce its AEM stacks, which are a core component of its electrolysers, more cost-effectively and in higher volumes while maintaining reliable supply.
The production launch comes as Enapter seeks to adapt its manufacturing structure to changing demand in the hydrogen market. Rather than relying solely on its own production capacity, the company is expanding the use of external manufacturing partners to create a more flexible cost structure.
The Shenzhen facility could therefore become an important part of Enapter’s strategy to increase AEM stack availability while limiting capital expenditure and fixed manufacturing costs. The company expects the combination of scalable production and lower overheads to strengthen its financial performance as demand for electrolyser systems grows.
