The Department of Energy is soliciting a chiller system for the MultiMegawatt electrolyzer project, which is essential for cooling glycol process fluid in hydrogen production. This opportunity is suited for small businesses in the manufacturing sector, specifically those classified under NAICS 333415. Interested vendors should note that this is a solicitation notice, indicating the need to prepare a bid rather than simply track the opportunity. The chiller must meet specific technical requirements, including outdoor operation capabilities and variable cooling demands.
Analysis by Mindy, grounded in the SAM.gov notice.
Description
Attachment No. 1
Technical Specifications
MMW Chiller for Balance of Plant
6/29/2026
BACKGROUND
Chiller to cool glycol process fluid for the function of cooling and drying the hydrogen that is produced
by the MultiMegawatt (MMW) electrolyzer project
OBJECTIVE
This chiller is part of the process of creating dry gaseous hydrogen with a proton exchange membrane
(PEM) electrolyzer. As part of the PEM process, hydrogen is created saturated with water. In order to use
this hydrogen in fuel cells and other equipment the hydrogen must be dried. This chiller will provide
cooled glycol to condense the water out of the hydrogen stream as the bulk reduction of water step of the
process. National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) will be responsible for process piping to connect the
chiller to the drying equipment and heat exchanges. This purchase request is for chiller, glycol pump, and
glycol buffer tank system with process port connections for glycol.
SPECIFICATIONS:
REQUIRED CAPABILITIES
• Outdoor air-cooled chiller system to reach a total cooling capacity of 20 tons of cooling at 44°F
with 95°F ambient air temperature (actual process requirement is a minimum of 15 tons of
cooling at 35°F process temperature with 95 F ambient).
o Request is for single self-contained unit with and process fluid inlet and outlet. Process
connection and process heat exchangers will be NLR’s scope.
o Required process cooling will be variable. Chiller will need to be able to accommodate
variable cooling demand
• Process side (cooled fluid) specifications
o 50%/50% propylene glycol and water by volume
o Flow rate 60-90 gpm total coolant process flow
o Fluid set temperature 35°F
o Supply pressures between 40 psi and 100 psi are acceptable
• Ambient operating conditions
o Entire unit must be outdoor rated
o NEMA 3R rated enclosure minimum (rain/snow/blown dust)
o Elevation 6,000 feet above sea level
o Operation in following conditions
0 – 95 F ambient temperature
Wind speeds up to 80 mph
o Survivability (system operation will be paused (chiller/pumps off) and then manually
restarted at above ambient operation conditions)
-20 – 104 F ambient temperature
Wind speeds up to 155 mph (wind breaks can be installed by NREL if necessary)
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• Utilities and Controls
o 480 VAC 3 phase
o Remote control input for on/off
o Remote temperature setpoint control is not necessary if local settings remain through
power cycles
o Entire unit should be an OSHA approved NRTL listed (UL, CSA, etc.) for the electrical
components. If entire unit is not listed, any electrical component above 50 volts must be
individually NRTL listed.
TECHNICAL OR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
• Entire unit should be as OSHA approved NRTL listed (UL, CSA, etc.) for the electrical
components. If entire unit is not listed, any electrical component above 50 volts must be
individually NRTL listed.
TIMELINE
• Delivery needed by Friday, September 11, 2026.
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Source: SAM.gov, as posted. Verify the current solicitation before responding.
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