Sener develops containerised electrolyser for industrial hydrogen supply

Industrial decarbonisation, particularly in energy-intensive sectors such as steelmaking, glass, cement and petrochemicals, increasingly depends on access to locally available green hydrogen. To address infrastructure and supply constraints, Sener is contributing to the design of the first portable, containerised electrolyser developed in the Basque Country as part of the H2SKID project.

Portable hydrogen production for industrial environments
The H2SKID project aims to develop an experimental 1.25 MW containerised electrolyser capable of supplying green hydrogen directly to industrial sites. Led by Sarralle and involving eleven companies across the hydrogen value chain, the initiative responds to a key limitation in current hydrogen deployment: the lack of pipeline infrastructure connecting centralised hydrogen production with industrial end users.

By enabling on-site hydrogen generation, the H2SKID system allows long-duration testing campaigns under real operating conditions. These trials are essential to validate hydrogen substitution in high-temperature processes such as ladle pre-heating, furnaces and burners, where natural gas replacement requires stable and continuous hydrogen supply.

Modular electrolyser architecture with AEM and PEM compatibility
The electrolyser is designed as a compact, modular and plug-and-play solution, integrated into two transportable container units. One container houses the electrolysis system, while the second is dedicated to hydrogen compression and storage. The platform supports both anion exchange membrane (AEM) and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis technologies, providing flexibility to evaluate different production pathways.

Beyond hydrogen generation, the system functions as a test bench for critical components, including electrolyser subsystems and compression equipment. This dual role supports both industrial demonstration and targeted R&D activities aimed at strengthening the regional hydrogen technology ecosystem.

Engineering contribution and system validation
Sener’s role focuses on the design of the electrolyser’s main components, drawing on its previous work in next-generation electrolysis technologies. The project also includes applied research on auxiliary systems to improve overall efficiency, reliability and integration in industrial environments.

Validation will take place in a real production setting at ArcelorMittal Sestao, specifically in the ladle pre-heating burner area and/or tunnel furnace. This ensures that performance data reflects actual industrial constraints rather than laboratory conditions.

Supporting a regional hydrogen value chain
Running from 2025 to 2027, H2SKID brings together industrial partners including ABC Compresores, Erreka, Flubetech, Mugape, Team Group Engineering, Torraval, Tubos Reunidos Group and Zigor, with support from technology centres within the Basque Network of Science, Technology and Innovation (RVCTI). The project is also supported by the BASQUE ENERGY Cluster for dissemination activities.

By enabling decentralised hydrogen supply and real-world validation, H2SKID establishes a practical pathway for industrial hydrogen adoption and contributes to the development of a competitive, regionally anchored hydrogen production value chain.

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