ITM Power plc shares surged more than 35% in early trading to 127.56p after the company announced a partnership with Rheinmetall AG on a defence-focused synthetic fuels initiative.
The collaboration centres on Rheinmetall’s Giga PtX project, which aims to build a Europe-wide network of decentralised e-fuel plants to support NATO armed forces. The rollout could involve several hundred facilities, each with electrolysis capacity of up to 50MW and annual production of 5,000 to 7,000 tonnes of synthetic fuel. Initial efforts will focus on the UK.
ITM said synthetic fuels are likely to play a critical role in defence and other mission-critical sectors where electrification is not practical, positioning the project as a potentially significant growth opportunity for large-scale electrolyser deployment.
Dennis Schulz, chief executive of ITM Power plc, said the partnership with Rheinmetall AG highlights the growing convergence between energy transition and national security.
He emphasised that reliable fuel access is critical to defence capability, with decentralised production offering a more resilient alternative to traditional supply chains. Schulz added that the Giga PtX initiative provides a repeatable deployment model for large-scale electrolysers, while supporting sovereign fuel supply and operational readiness.
Shena Britzen, head of hydrogen programmes at Rheinmetall, described e-fuels as a “strategic necessity,” adding that the Giga PtX project is designed to create a scalable network to enhance energy autonomy for Europe’s defence forces.
She noted that beyond energy security, the focus is on ensuring operational independence across logistics, military operations and crisis response.
