Accelera’s investment in U.S. electrolyzer manufacturing attracts presidential attention

President Biden visited Accelera™ by Cummins at the Cummins Power Generation Facility in Fridley, Minnesota, on April 3 as part of his administration’s "Investing in America" tour. The visit highlighted Accelera’s October 2022 announcement to begin manufacturing electrolyzers in the United States for the first time. 

“When Cummins first manufactured hydrogen electrolyzers, they had to make them overseas,” said President Joe Biden, President of the United States. “But now, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act with tax credits for renewable energy, Cummins* is going to manufacture these electrolyzers here in America for the first time.”

Accelera is dedicating 89,000 sq. ft. of the existing Cummins facility to electrolyzer production, starting with its HyLYZER® proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. The HyLYZER line of products ranges from 1.25MW to more than 200MW for both small- and large-scale hydrogen generation projects. The facility will have a manufacturing capacity of 500 megawatts annually, with plans to scale up to 1 gigawatt in the future.

“It was an incredible honor to host President Biden at the U.S. facility where we will soon begin electrolyzer production,” said Amy Davis, President of Accelera. “In order to reach a net-zero global economy by 2050, we need 10 times the electrolyzer manufacturing capacity that exists today. Continued government partnership, like what we have seen from the Biden Administration, is required to develop the necessary hydrogen infrastructure. Accelera is committed to scaling and innovating hydrogen technologies to decarbonize the hardest-to-abate sectors, meet demand from our customers, and realize a sustainable future.”
 

With approximately 400 attendees on-site for the visit, the President and special guests toured the Cummins and Accelera manufacturing facility and met with employees. During the visit, they learned not only about the decarbonization efforts in Minnesota but the global work being done to accelerate the shift to a clean energy economy. These investments are aimed at building a clean energy economy, rebuilding infrastructure, and bringing back supply chains to create good-paying jobs across the country.

“As a result of the BIL and IRA, we have seen demand for electrolyzers skyrocket in the US,” said Alex Savelli, Managing Director of Electrolyzers for the Americas at Accelera. “Since the passing of the IRA and BIL, Accelera has sold 200 MW of electrolyzer projects in North America, which will cumulatively produce approximately 100 tons of hydrogen per day once commissioned by the end of 2025, and the project pipeline remains strong. The US has not only become one of the fastest growing markets for electrolyzers but is now one of the most cost-competitive countries for the production of green hydrogen.”

Electrolyzers play a critical role in advancing North American clean energy supply chains. When powered by renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or hydropower, electrolyzers can produce green hydrogen that is carbon-free.

*On March 8, Cummins unveiled Accelera, the new brand for its New Power business segment. The electrolyzers manufactured in Fridley will be Accelera branded.