In a bold step to accelerate the hydrogen economy, Battolyser Systems and VDL Hydrogen Systems have agreed to merge their electrolyser development operations into a single company, focused on delivering Europe’s first fully flexible, industrial-scale pressurized alkaline electrolyser. The merger, backed equally by shareholders from both companies and VDL Groep, is set to take effect in Q4 2025, pending regulatory approvals.
The joint venture will combine Battolyser Systems’ strength in dynamic, grid-responsive electrolyser design with VDL Hydrogen Systems’ high-capacity engineering approach. Together, they aim to unlock the lowest-cost green hydrogen production—crucial for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as e-fuels, steel, fertilizers, and energy storage.
Electrolysers currently on the market lack the flexibility required to align with fluctuating renewable energy sources. Most require a minimum operational load of 20% to function safely, limiting their ability to adapt to variable wind or solar power supply. The merged company’s next-generation system will operate at full flexibility, switching on to absorb surplus renewable energy and powering down when supply drops—without compromising safety or performance.
“Our technologies are deeply complementary,” said Mattijs Slee, CEO of Battolyser Systems. “Together, we’ll bring a competitive, industrial-scale product to market, manufactured by VDL Groep and designed for real-world integration with Europe’s expanding renewable energy infrastructure.”
Pilot deployments with industrial customers are already underway, with full-scale demonstrations and commercial ramp-up planned for the coming years. The company expects strong demand as the European Union pushes for energy independence and domestic green hydrogen capacity.
“Combining our capabilities allows us to build a cutting-edge electrolyser—made in Europe—that can produce competitive green hydrogen at scale,” said Willem van der Leegte, President and CEO of VDL Groep. “This is a major milestone for Europe’s energy transition.”
The new company will rely on VDL Groep as its manufacturing partner for stack production, ensuring scalable and efficient delivery. The merger is currently under review by the European Investment Bank, and both Battolyser Systems and VDL Hydrogen Systems’ shareholders have committed to equal funding for the newly merged business.
About the Companies:
Battolyser Systems (Schiedam) is known for its development of fully flexible pressurized alkaline electrolysers that can optimize hydrogen production based on power prices and grid conditions. Major investors include Innovation Industries, Global Cleantech Capital, Invest-NL, and Koolen Industries.
VDL Hydrogen Systems (Eindhoven), a subsidiary of VDL Groep, focuses on high-capacity electrolyser systems aimed at decarbonizing energy-intensive industries with clean hydrogen sourced from solar and wind energy.
VDL Groep is a diversified, international industrial family business headquartered in Brainport Eindhoven, operating across 20 countries with a workforce of over 14,000 employees.
