Building an ecosystem for scalable hydrogen and next generation chemicals
Ahead of thyssenkrupp Uhde’s participation in EGYPES 2026, CEO Nadja Hakansson discusses breakthroughs, ecosystem challenges, and the path forward to scale successfully.
What is the biggest bottleneck in scaling electrolysers and hydrogen projects today?
When people talk about scaling hydrogen, the focus often goes straight to electrolyser Capex. And yes, costs still need to come down. The technology is ready — that is not what is holding us back. The real challenge is the ecosystem around it. We still need the right infrastructure for transport and storage, consistent regulatory frameworks, and financing models that give investors confidence. Right now, fragmented policies and limited logistics capacity slow everything down.
How are you helping heavy industry cut emissions without disrupting operations?
For us, it is all about making decarbonisation as smooth and low risk as possible.
Heavy industry cannot just pause operations for months, so we design solutions that fit into the reality of running a plant. That means retrofitting carbon capture systems with minimal downtime, integrating low carbon hydrogen and synthetic fuels into existing processes, and using digital tools to optimise operations in real time. Our modular approach really helps, because companies can upgrade step-by-step, instead of committing to major overhauls all at once.
One example I am particularly proud of is the Hydrogen Recovery Unit at Fertiglobe’s Fertil plant in Ruwais, UAE. We installed it safely while the plant stayed fully operational. With membrane technology, we are able to recover hydrogen from purge gas, increasing ammonia production by up to 6% and significantly reducing CO2 emissions per ton of ammonia.
What recent project best signals where clean chemicals are heading?
The ammonia cracking project we are developing with Uniper in Gelsenkirchen is a powerful signal of where the sector is going. This demonstration plant converts ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen, and that is a key step toward enabling global hydrogen logistics.
It is one of the first projects at this scale, and it really sets the foundation for future import terminals. The plan is to install multiple large-scale cracking units. Other clean ammonia initiatives show that this is where the industry is heading: chemicals becoming part of a global low-carbon value chain.
What aspects of EGYPES 2026 are most valuable for your work in hydrogen and clean chemicals?
What I really appreciate about EGYPES is the mix of people and perspectives. You have ministers, CEOs, technology providers, and investors all in one place and that creates a kind of momentum you do not often see. It is a space where technology, policy, and finance can actually come together. The dedicated hydrogen and clean chemicals sessions are particularly valuable because they allow us to share innovations like ammonia cracking and explore partnerships that cut across industries and borders.
