On the site of a coal-fired power plant: Hamburg pushes a large hydrogen project

Friday, January 22, 2021

On the site of a coal power plant
Hamburg pushes large hydrogen project

At the location of the controversial Moorburg coal-fired power station, wind energy from the north is to be converted into green hydrogen. One of the largest plants in Europe is planned. The port of Hamburg seems ideally suited for this, and several large corporations want to participate.

At the location of the long controversial coal-fired power station Hamburg-Moorburg, which has since gone offline, green hydrogen is to be produced on a large scale in future. The oil company Shell, the industrial group Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the previous power plant operator Vattenfall and the municipal heating company Hamburg have signed a declaration of intent, as the environmental authority announced. An electrolysis plant with a capacity of at least 100 megawatts is planned to be fed with electricity from wind power. In addition, it will also be investigated how the existing infrastructure can be used to generate energy on the basis of renewable energies.

Should the partners go beyond their declaration of intent and actually decide to invest, green hydrogen could be produced by 2025. The plant would then be one of the largest in Europe. The partners seek funding that the EU uses to launch projects of common European interest (IPCEI). The application for this is to be submitted with a first project outline in the first quarter.

From the point of view of the four partners, the location in Moorburg has ideal conditions. It is connected to both the national electricity transmission network and the network of the city of Hamburg. In addition, overseas ships could dock there and use the quay and port facility as an import terminal. "The gas pipeline network in the port and around Moorburg will be expanded with immediate effect for hydrogen to supply industry and large companies," said Hamburg's Senator for the Environment Jens Kerstan from the Greens.

Coal-fired power plant was only commissioned in 2015

The independent Senator for Economic Affairs Michael Westhagemann said: "Via the 380 kV connection and the connection to Brunsbüttel, we have direct access to the supply of green electricity from wind power – and thus the possibility of actually producing green hydrogen in relevant quantities." Numerous potential customers are located in the area.

"This agreement is an important step for the energy transition city of Hamburg," said Environment Senator Kerstan. Green hydrogen is a great lever for achieving climate goals. Senator for Economic Affairs Westhagemann was also enthusiastic: "This announcement is a big step towards long-term decarbonisation of the port and a competitive hydrogen economy in the Hamburg metropolitan region."

The aim is to develop Hamburg as a starting point for building a hydrogen economy in northern Germany. Energy generation from biomass is also conceivable there. The long-controversial Moorburg coal-fired power plant is still at the site, one of the largest in Europe that went online in 2015 and ceased commercial operation last December after Vattenfall was awarded a decommissioning bonus by the Federal Network Agency. According to Vattenfall, the power plant can supply electricity in an emergency until summer.