The EWE Group is pressing ahead with the construction of its hydrogen storage facility located in Huntorf, Germany. Bilfinger, an international provider of industrial services, has won a contract for the delivery of a hydrogen treatment facility in Germany from EWE GASSPEICHER GmbH, a subsidiary of the company. Bilfinger will be responsible for the engineering, installation, and commissioning of the plant, another important step in EWE’s program so as to convert a present natural gas cavern into a large-scale hydrogen storage facility.
The hydrogen storage facility will be built in the underground salt caverns of EWE at Huntorf in Germany’s Wesermarsch region. When commissioned, the facility will provide around 16 million standard cubic meters – Nm3 working gas capacity for hydrogen. The storage facility will be connected to Germany’s hydrogen backbone, thus creating a flexible link between hydrogen production, transport, and use.
Storage facilities increase security of supply and stability of the system
In the future hydrogen will be generated or imported when renewable energy is available – not when industrial customers, energy suppliers, or power generators need it. Hydrogen storage systems address this timing issue – When they can, they store hydrogen; when they must, they release it. Storage facilities provide important flexibility by managing fluctuations in hydrogen supply, increasing security of supply, and supporting the stability of the future hydrogen economy.
Hydrogen storage facilities are key to a reliable and safe energy supply. They act as a buffer between production, import, and consumption, ensuring hydrogen happens to be available whenever it is needed – no matter when it is produced or supplied.
According to Peter Schmidt, Managing Director of EWE GASSPEICHER GmbH, “Hydrogen storage facilities are essential for a secure and reliable energy supply. They create a buffer between production, import, and consumption, ensuring that hydrogen is available whenever it is needed – no matter when it is produced or supplied. With our storage project in Huntorf, we are creating vital infrastructure and, through this contract award to Bilfinger, taking another important step forward. For hydrogen storage to fulfill its role in the future energy system and for investments in the required infrastructure to materialize, reliable regulatory and economic framework conditions are just as important as the timely development of the hydrogen core network.”
Innovative treatment technology for hydrogen
For several years, Bilfinger has been supporting EWE in the preparation and execution of hydrogen production and storage plants at different locations. The company will be responsible for engineering, installation, and commissioning of the hydrogen drying system for this hydrogen treatment facility in Germany. It will be the first time the H2Dry technology, which will be developed by Bilfinger and will be used on a commercial scale, will be developed.
According to Product Manager Hydrogen at Bilfinger, Ulrich Trebbe, “Hydrogen storage requires efficient and cost-effective treatment solutions. With H2Dry, we provide exactly that while helping our customers bring green hydrogen to market competitively. EWE and Bilfinger have built a strong partnership over many years, and we are delighted to further strengthen this collaboration as we contribute to developing a sustainable energy supply for Germany.”
Hydrogen production, transport and use are all integrated into Huntorf
The Huntorf hydrogen storage facility is a component of EWE’s flagship initiative, the Clean Hydrogen Coastline. The project connects the production, storage, transport, and use of renewable hydrogen in northwest Germany. The German federal government and the State of Lower Saxony approved funding for the four-part project in the summer of 2024 as part of the European IPCEI – Important Project of Common European Interest program.
EWE is currently working on converting the present-day natural gas cavern in Huntorf into a large-scale hydrogen store in several stages. The hydrogen treatment plant is an important part of the future storage infrastructure. The facility is expected to connect to the hydrogen core network and to become operational in 2028. As a buffer between hydrogen production, transport, and consumption, the storage facility is going to help to balance variations in the hydrogen system, offer hydrogen when it is necessary, and further improve the security of supply.
Experience in large-scale deployment research
As part of a research project at its gas storage site in Rüdersdorf, located near Berlin, EWE has already been able to prove the safe storage of hydrogen in salt caverns. The know-how acquired in the construction and operation of the 500 cubic meter test cavern is now being applied to large-scale projects like Huntorf.
EWE has a wealth of experience when it comes to the development and operation of underground energy storage facilities with a portfolio of 37 salt caverns. Now, this experience is helping to grow the future hydrogen storage network of Germany.