Nikola and Plug Power: Together for the hydrogen economy

Complete hydrogen truck supplier Nikola has entered into a new strategic partnership with Plug Power, another company active in the hydrogen industry. According to a recent announcement, Plug Power plans to purchase up to 75 Nikola Tre fuel cell trucks over the next three years, with the first vehicles to be delivered in 2023.

The two US companies want to use synergy effects and thus jointly accelerate the development of a hydrogen economy. The new cooperation is expected to bring benefits to both Nikola and Plug Power: Plug Power acquires 75 H2 trucks for the delivery of green hydrogen. Nikola, in turn, is acquiring from Plug Power a hydrogen liquefaction system with a capacity of 30 tonnes per day, which is intended for the hydrogen hub project in Arizona. The system is expected to be scalable up to 150 tonnes per day. Nikola's recently announced hydrogen hub project in Buckeye, Arizona, is still going through the permitting process.

The companies have also signed a 125-tonne-per-day green hydrogen supply contract. Plug will provide Nikola with at least 100 tonnes of hydrogen per day to fuel Tre hydrogen trucks at several locations in the US, with the possibility of increasing the volume over time, he said. "Nikola and Plug share a common vision for sustainable, efficient energy solutions that supports our commitment to decarbonising the transportation industry," said Nikola President for Energy, Carey Mendes.

Plug Power sees the announcement of its partnership with Nikola as underpinning its "leadership in the green hydrogen economy and its ability to make hydrogen adoption as easy as possible", said Sanjay Shrestha, CSO and General Manager of Energy Solutions at Plug Power. "Our vertically integrated solutions, tailored to individual customer needs, include hydrogen production facilities or hydrogen fuel delivery, whichever is preferred. We look forward to our strategic relationship with Nikola as we work together to advance the hydrogen economy." In North America, the company aims to produce 500 tonnes of hydrogen per day by 2025 and 1000 tonnes per day globally by 2028. In Europe, Plug Power is best known as Renault's partner in the Hyvia joint venture.