A plan for Nel to deliver a MC250 containerised PEM electrolyser to the US cite of St. Cloud has been created. This plan will be carried out, with the intention that it will enable the city to begin producing green hydrogen at a wastewater treatment facility.

It has been stated that at the moment, St. Cloud produces ‘three times as much energy as it consumes as a municipality.’ This has led to the city’s aim to become carbon neutral for its electrical use in 2028 and then go onto becoming carbon neutral for electrical, building heat and transportation by 2038.

Once this project has begun, it is planned that the Minnesota city will be able to start producing hydrogen from solar power and biogas that has been generated by the treatment process, as soon as 2025. From there, the fuel that is used for onsite heating and power will be generated and this fuel will be stored when excess renewable energy has been generated.

It was in 2023 that Nel made the announcement that the company would be expanding its PEM electrolyser manufacturing facility in Connecticut, US, once the company achieved their final investment decision (FID). This $25.1m expansion brought the facility’s production capacity towards 500MW and this is a milestone which the company hopes to reach in 2025.

Alongside the project’s core aims, the project has the ability to investigate the potential of capturing oxygen for use within the wastewater treatment facility’s aeration system.

The city’s Public Services Director, Tracy Hodel, commented, “In the future, the whole community of St. Cloud will use renewable hydrogen to decarbonise a wide range of sectors. Forging a path to a cleaner future, this innovative green hydrogen project stands as a bold testament to our community’s commitment to decarbonising the energy and transportation sectors. It’s not just about embracing new technology; it’s about daring to lead with courage and vision to make a difference for tomorrow’s future.”