H2 Impactmakers: XINTC’s Thorsten Holtmüller
What inspired you to start this hydrogen project and what motivates you to keep going?
“The realisation that we can help the world if we start decarbonising society. Green hydrogen as a clean energy carrier can play a key role in this. The biggest challenge is developing an electrolyser system that dynamically keeps pace with renewable energy sources such as sun and wind, yet produces hydrogen as cheaply as possible. After years of R&D, we have achieved our goal: a en plug-and-play, modular, scalable and virtually maintenance free electrolyser system that is the world’s first to be able to be directly connected to fluctuating energy sources.”
Which challenges did you face during the project and how did you overcome them?
“Developing an entirely new kind of electrolyser with plastic stacks was no walk in the park and generated the necessary technical challenges. Because we approach issues with scientific precision and have a supremely competent team of professionals, we overcame every obstacle. Perhaps our most serious challenge was finding a suitable production location, then subsequently navigating the maze of permits.”
What is, in your opinion, the biggest contribution this project makes to the transition to a sustainable hydrogen economy?
“The XINTC Experience Center in Kootwijkerbroek proves our electrolyser can be directly connected to a solar park without having to resort to the usual power electronics such as transformers and batteries. The system ‘wafts along’ with the fluctuating energy production of the PV panels as it were, ensuring increased hydrogen production at lower costs. The latter is crucial to the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy.”
Which support or cooperation played a definitive role in your project’s success?
“The construction of the XINTC Experience Center was partly financed with a contribution from Groenvermogen.”
What will hydrogen’s future be like and what do you hope your project can do in this context?
“Hydrogen will occupy a prominent role in the energy mix and will outperform the majority of the fossil fuel alternatives. The cheaper solar and wind energy become, the more production costs for hydrogen will decrease, particularly if the latter is produced using the XINTC electrolyser system. We demonstrate how the technology works at the XINTC Experience Center. Using a cleverly aligned production and distribution structure, we will assemble our system modules on multiple continents, utilising local supply chains and employees. All the projects in our pipeline have one thing in common: they start relatively small, then scale up. XINTC offers the perfect building blocks for doing so.”
Visit the XINTC Experience Center
You can visit the XINTC Experience Center during the World Hydrogen Summit 2025 in Rotterdam which will be held from 20 – 23 May 2025. Register by emailing kbo@xintcglobal.com. Click here for more information.
About this project
XINTC’s H2Plein project received a € 1.7 million DEI+ subsidy. Click here to find out more about this project.