Shell, Swedish energy company Vattenfall, Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and a local partner plan to build a scalable 100MW green hydrogen electrolyser at a site near Hamburg in northern Germany that until very recently been home to an operational coal-fired power plant.

The partners, which also include municipal heat provider Warme Hamburg, expect to start green hydrogen production mainly from offshore wind as well as solar power in 2025 and are assessing options to add further renewable energy plants to the site to create a larger green energy hub.

“The establishment of a green hydrogen hub that is fully integrated into Hamburg's industrial infrastructure would show Europe and the world that the hydrogen economy is real and can make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the energy system and heavy industry,” says Kentaro Hosomi, president and CEO, energy systems, at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Mitsubishi said the investment would be a "(lower) three-digit million amount".

The Moorburg site, located south of Hamburg, is connected to both the national and local electricity networks and includes a quay and port allowing overseas ships to reach the location directly. The partners are in discussion with potential local green hydrogen customers. “Hydrogen is an essential component for the decarbonisation of the processes or products for various industrial companies in the Port of Hamburg around the Moorburg location,” a Vattenfall spokesman tells Hydrogen Economist.

The project partners intend to apply for EU funding in the first quarter of this year under the Important Projects of Common European Interest programme.

Like several European countries, Germany has an ambitious hydrogen strategy and plans to build 5GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030. Last year, the government earmarked €9bn ($10.9bn) to support hydrogen projects at home and to forge international partnerships. Hamburg’s municipal gas network company wants to expand a local hydrogen network into the port area in the coming ten years.

“Our hydrogen future is now taking shape, and Hamburg intends to be at the forefront,” says Jens Kerstan, chairman of Warme Hamburg’s supervisory board and Hamburg’s minister for environment and energy.

The project will be built on the current site of Vattenfall’s 1.6GW coal-fired power plant, which in December was granted state funds to close earlier than planned as part of Germany’s coal phase-out. The five-year-old plant has already ceased operations and will be demolished as soon as Germany’s transmission system operator gives the go-ahead.

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Author: Karolin Schaps