Global provider of air and gas handling products, technologies and services, Howden, has signed a framework agreement with Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser, a division of Nel ASA, to supply hydrogen compressor solutions for its electrolysers.

The reliability, efficiency and safety delivered by Howden’s compression solution matches Nel’s electrolysers’ requirements, relative to hydrogen production, and is an important step towards achieving Nel’s cost target of green hydrogen production at $1.5/kg, Howden said. The two companies will work closely together to develop cost competitive hydrogen compressor systems for Nel’s electrolysers.

Ross Shuster, Howden CEO, said: “We are delighted to enter into this agreement with Nel as it illustrates achievements already made in integrating Howden’s hydrogen compression solution with Nel’s electrolysers to lower the life-cycle cost of production and accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel.”

Howden says it has extensive capabilities in developing and delivering state-of-art hydrogen compression solutions. In fact, it was recently selected by SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall to deliver a hydrogen storage compression solution for HYBRIT, the world’s first fossil-free steel plant, in Svartöberget, Sweden.

Jon André Løkke, Nel CEO, said: “We are pleased to enter into this framework agreement with Howden, which ties into the ambitions we announced at our Capital Markets Day and reiterated in our Q1 (March quarter) 2021 report around forming strategic partnerships. Working with Howden allows us to optimise our offerings towards existing and future customers.”