Large-Scale ‘Clean Hydrogen’ Project Moves Forward in Germany
Siemens Energy has been awarded a contract by German utility EWE to supply a 280-MW electrolysis system. The plant in the German city of Emden is expected to go into operation in 2027 and will provide up to 26,000 tons of green hydrogen annually for various industrial applications in the region. If this green hydrogen replaces fossil fuels, about 800,000 tons of CO2 per year could be avoided in the steel industry, for example.
The electrolysis plant is part of EWE’s large-scale hydrogen project “Clean Hydrogen Coastline,” which consists of four sub-projects. The electrolyzer represents the core of the Emden hydrogen production plant, which, including other necessary components such as compressors and cooling systems, has an average power consumption of 320 MW over its entire lifetime. In addition to supplying the electrolyzer, EWE and Siemens Energy have agreed on a 10-year service contract.
The German government and the European Commission had classified the project as a strategic funding measure, a so-called IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) project. The funding decision for this project was handed over to EWE last week at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. With the signing of the contract, EWE and Siemens Energy immediately gave the go-ahead for implementation.
“This project is an important element in the ramp-up of the green hydrogen industry in Germany,” said Anne-Laure de Chammard, member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy. “With the long-awaited funding commitments, the German government has placed the final piece of the puzzle to realize strategically important projects like this on a large scale. The immediate conclusion of the contract with EWE demonstrates that the industry is ready to swiftly implement these projects.”
“EWE is active along the entire value chain with its hydrogen projects, from production to transportation and storage. Our choice of location in northwest Germany and our decision to work with Siemens Energy means that we are focusing on both regional and national value creation,” said EWE CEO Stefan Dohler. In a selection process that lasted 12 months, EWE had thoroughly examined 10 electrolysis manufacturers worldwide. “I am delighted that we are also working with Siemens Energy on hydrogen, as the company is already a long-standing partner for EWE in all aspects of our energy infrastructure,” said Dohler.
The electrolyzer from Siemens Energy is based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology, which uses electricity to split water into its components—hydrogen and oxygen—along the proton exchange membrane. This technology is particularly suitable for operation with renewable energies due to the very flexible ramp-up times. The stacks—the heart of the electrolyzers—are manufactured in the new gigawatt factory at Siemens Energy’s Berlin site.
—POWER edited this content, which was contributed by Siemens Energy’s media relations department.