Construction work for the electrolyzer is set to begin next year, with commercial operation scheduled for 2027. The plant will produce around 10,000 tons of green hydrogen annually. HGHH has also entered into a ten-year maintenance agreement with Siemens Energy. The contract value remains undisclosed.
The electrolyzer stacks will be manufactured at Siemens Energy’s Gigafactory in Berlin and assembled at its Mühlheim facility, with contributions from a European partner.
In July, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, announced funding for this large-scale hydrogen project from the Federal Government and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg in Berlin. Shortly afterwards, he personally handed over the IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) funding notice at the Moorburg site, following the EU Commission’s funding approval in February 2024.
Preparatory work on the former power plant site began in autumn 2023, including partial dismantling to make room for the electrolyzer and connection to the HH-WIN hydrogen network. Some existing infrastructure, such as water treatment facilities, workshops, and storage buildings, will be retained. The existing connection to the extra-high voltage grid will be relocated and converted to supply the electrolyzer with renewable energy.
Ramboll was commissioned to conduct the Front End Engineering & Design (FEED) study in early 2024, which is nearing completion. The HGHH consortium is working towards a detailed execution plan and is in discussions with potential hydrogen consumers from various industries. Green hydrogen will be supplied via the HH-WIN network and a planned truck loading station, with production gradually ramping up to ensure stable distribution.
Christoph Cosler, Head of Business Development at Hamburger Energiewerke and Managing Director of HGHH, commented: “The order for the electrolyzer is a milestone for our project. The decisive factor for this step was the national funding decision that we received for our project in mid-July. After all the preparatory work, we are now moving on to the actual implementation. Construction of the electrolyzer, which will be a core element of the Hamburg hydrogen site, will start as early as next year.”
Holger Matthiesen, Project Director at Luxcara and Managing Director of HGHH, said: “With Siemens Energy, we have gained one of the most experienced suppliers of electrolyzers for the production of green hydrogen. Thanks to the selected PEM technology, the proximity to Siemens Energy’s Berlin Gigafactory and a dense service network, the HGHH project benefits from high efficiency and availability.”
Alexey Ustinov, Head of Sustainable Energy Systems at Siemens Energy, added: “We are delighted to be part of the Hamburg project as it is another important step in the ramp-up of the European hydrogen economy. Without green molecules, the energy transition will not succeed. It is good that the German government is doing its part to ensure that this project can now be realized quickly by providing the funding.”
