Samsung E&A Forges Partnership with Nel to Advance Hydrogen Initiatives
South Korea’s Samsung E&A Co. has made a strategic investment in Norway’s Nel ASA to boost its presence in the burgeoning green hydrogen sector. The move, finalized on March 11, 2025, signals Samsung E&A’s ambition to become a key player in the evolving hydrogen economy.
On March 12, 2025, Samsung E&A announced its acquisition of a 9.1% stake in Nel for approximately 47.6 billion won ($32.8 million). This investment is coupled with a strategic partnership agreement that grants Samsung E&A access to Nel’s technologies and expertise. Nel, in turn, will issue 167.1 million shares to Samsung E&A, making the South Korean company its largest single shareholder.
The partnership includes an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement. Under this agreement, Samsung E&A will offer its customers complete hydrogen plants using its own designs, leveraging Nel’s electrolyzers. Electrolyzers play a crucial role in hydrogen production, utilizing electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This process is essential for generating low-emissions hydrogen, especially when powered by renewable or nuclear energy sources.
“The technology investment and expanded cooperation will allow us to proactively secure technologies in the energy transition sectors such as hydrogen and carbon neutrality,” a Samsung E&A official stated. The company aims “to create a virtuous cycle of business by attracting not only technology orders but also high-value EPC orders.”
Nel ASA, a Norwegian company, specializes in providing solutions for the production, storage, and distribution of hydrogen from renewable energy sources. The company, known for launching the world’s first electrolyzer, offers various water electrolysis technologies for green hydrogen production. Green hydrogen production leads to substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to grey hydrogen, which is derived from fossil fuels without carbon capture.
Through this partnership, Samsung E&A intends to provide its customers with advanced hydrogen plant technologies. The company also plans to expand its business to encompass the installation and operation of electrolyzers. Furthermore, Samsung E&A anticipates that its commitment to green hydrogen production will open opportunities in sectors such as green ammonia, green methanol, and e-fuels.
