Enapter AG has received a pilot order worth approximately €0.5 million from a US drone manufacturer for its AEM electrolysers, marking the company’s entry into a new application area for hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicles.

The order covers Enapter’s AEM Electrolyser 4.1 series, with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. The systems will be integrated into mobile, all-terrain refuelling units designed to produce hydrogen directly where drones operate.

The systems will generate hydrogen from water and solar power without requiring a connection to the electricity grid. This approach is designed to eliminate the need to transport and store hydrogen in large compressed gas cylinders, which can create logistical challenges when operating hydrogen-powered drones in remote locations.

Hydrogen propulsion can provide drones with substantially longer flight and mission durations compared with battery-electric systems, while enabling rapid refuelling. This combination can be particularly valuable for applications requiring extended operating times and limited access to conventional energy infrastructure.

The initial order is structured as a pilot project, allowing Enapter and its US customer to evaluate the technology in operational conditions. For Enapter, the project also provides an opportunity to develop a new market for its modular AEM electrolysis technology.

The company says the compact footprint, robust operation and modular design of its AEM systems are well suited to mobile hydrogen production. Additional electrolyser modules can be added as hydrogen requirements increase, allowing production capacity to be scaled without fundamentally changing the system architecture.

The global market for drones capable of long-range and extended-duration flight is expanding, creating potential demand for hydrogen-based energy systems that can overcome some of the range and refuelling limitations associated with battery-powered aircraft.

Dr Jürgen Laakmann, CEO of Enapter AG, said the order demonstrates the potential for the company’s technology beyond traditional industrial applications. He highlighted the ability to produce hydrogen directly at the point of use without complex fuel supply chains, while pointing to mobile refuelling solutions as an area with significant growth potential.