First green hydrogen has been generated at Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park in Germany. Konstantin von Oldenburg, Managing Director of Trading & Sales at VNG, said that “With the production of this first hydrogen, we are moving closer to our shared goal of converting renewable energy into an industrially usable energy source.”
Uniper’s Chief Operating Officer Holger Kreetz said production had been running for several days now. TotalEnergies intends to start supplying customers with green hydrogen in early 2027.
It is worth noting that electricity for the hydrogen production comes from the connected wind farm. The electricity is then used to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen in a device called an electrolyzer. The wind farm has a capacity of around 50 megawatts, and the electrolyzer a capacity of 30 megawatts. The figures correspond to the capacity of the facilities, not to how much hydrogen is produced.
The first production run is finished, but regular deliveries to the industry are not yet on. Now the project partners are apparently testing whether all steps work together reliably – from the generation of electricity to the production of hydrogen, purification of the gas, and finally the transport. Impurities are eliminated during purification so that the gas conforms to the quality standards needed for applications in industry.
Converted pipeline to be run to Leuna
In this regard, a previous natural gas pipeline of about 25 kilometers has been retrofitted for hydrogen. The pipeline will in the future transport the energy carrier into the hydrogen network of the Central German chemical industry and also be utilized at the TotalEnergies refinery located in Leuna. TotalEnergies is due to buy about 3,000 metric tons of hydrogen under the plan in 2027. Von Oldenburg said the long-term purchase contract with the company had already been in place when the final investment decision was made. It was this commitment that made the project a reality.
The hydrogen market is in need of more customers
Kreetz adds that the important aspect now is that the complete process chain should run reliably in operation. This process refers to the procedures from the wind farm to the transportation of the gas.
The whole system is expected to be fully operational by 2027. Industry is initially considered the principal user. The project also mentions solutions for urban transport as a probable future application.
The fact is that infrastructure alone will not be enough to grow the hydrogen economy in Germany, Kreetz said. There is a requirement for more customers, and one needs to have the possibility for companies to convert what they produce to hydrogen in a sustainable and cost-effective way. Such a situation requires policymakers to develop dependable framework standards. That is the big piece, which is actually missing right now, Kreetz adds.
Hans-Joachim Polk, VNG Chief Technology Officer, said that the experience gained in Bad Lauchstädt energy park in Germany could benefit other projects. He further pointed out that they are indeed wanting to inspire other people.
Also, patience is required, according to Timm Kehler from the Gas and Hydrogen Industry Association, who further remarked, “The hydrogen ramp-up will take a little while longer.”
The belief that there is a future for hydrogen still runs deep in the industry. But the issue seems to have lost some of its importance in the ministry responsible for energy, compared to a few years ago. Still, there is an understanding for the significance of this energy source, but dependable political frameworks are inadequate.
The project is being funded with 44 million euros by the federal government.
The initiative sees 210 million euros invested by the project partners. That includes 44 million euros or $46 million in federal funding.