The strategic acquisition of Diamond Lite, the Swiss specialist for hydrogen gas production facilities, is taking place against the backdrop of the progressive decarbonisation of society. In the future, fossil-based sectors such as mobility or heating/cooling can increasingly be supplied with combustibles and fuels generated using carbon-neutral, renewable electricity. These sector-interlinking solutions that are known under the term “power-to-gas” are opening up new business opportunities for Alpiq as an energy services provider.
Alpiq already has comprehensive expertise and experience in industrial plant engineering and the energy services business. In the future, the company will expand its portfolio of services to include power-to-gas production facilities and will offer the planning, turnkey construction and marketing of such solutions to European industrial customers. With the acquisition of Diamond Lite, Alpiq is gaining access to market-leading, specialist know-how. Contract signing and the closing of the purchase contract took place on 30 June 2017. The parties have agreed not to disclose details regarding the purchase price. The acquisition follows Alpiq’s strategy to continue expanding its market presence in the energy services sector and to make targeted investments in growth fields.
Solution for carbon-neutral production of combustibles and fuels
The core of the power-to-gas process is electrolysis, which enables the production of energy-rich hydrogen gas using electricity and water. The produced hydrogen can be used directly as an energy source. Alternatively, hydrogen can be synthesised with CO2 to create methane gas or liquid combustibles and fuels. The capture of free carbon during the production process enables a climate-neutral combustible and fuel cycle to be created. Potential areas of application for the technology are transport logistics and, in the future, aviation.
Diamond Lite with headquarters in the Swiss municipality of Herisau maintains a long-standing, successful partnership with Proton OnSite, the global market leader for the most advanced electrolysis technology, and is an optimal addition to Alpiq's portfolio of services.
More information about Alpiq: www.alpiq.com