German Federal Ministry of Energy Funds Renewable Hydrogen Project

(NGV Journal/Ørsted) The partners of the WESTKÜSTE 100 project received funding confirmation from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy as the first large-scale hydrogen project in Germany within the Reallabor (real-world laboratory) framework. Energy-intensive industries and the transportation sector will have the opportunity to reduce their carbon intensity by using renewable hydrogen.

The project has a total budget of 89 million euros. The approved funding for the project, starting on August 1, amounts to 30 million euros. A total of 10 partners have joined forces to form the consortium: EDF Germany, Holcim Germany, OGE, Ørsted, Raffinerie Heide, Stadtwerke Heide, Thüga and thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions, together with the Region Heide Development Agency and the Fachhochschule Westküste (West Coast University of Applied Sciences).

“The funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to the Westküste 100 project is a significant step forward for our hydrogen business. This is our third hydrogen project – and the first one in Germany – found eligible for public funding, and we’re very excited about the prospects of supporting heavy industries and heavy transport with clean alternatives based on renewable hydrogen,” said Martin Neubert, Executive Vice President and CEO, Ørsted Offshore.

The Westküste 100 project models a regional hydrogen economy on an industrial scale. The conditions on Northern Germany’s west coast are ideal for this: a strong wind energy region meets innovative companies that want to contribute to reaching the crucial climate targets.

With the grant approval from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, the Westküste 100 project can now enter its first phase. This first phase includes a number of elements. A newly founded joint venture, “H2 Westküste GmbH”, consisting of EDF Germany, Ørsted and the Heide refinery, intends to build a 30 megawatt electrolyzer. This can produce green hydrogen from offshore wind energy and provide information on the operation, maintenance, control and grid services of the plant. Furthermore, pipeline transportation of hydrogen and the use of hydrogen in existing and new infrastructure around Heide will be tested. The consortium will also initiate the work to develop the vision of a large-scale sector coupling including a 700MW electrolyzer system into a concrete project. READ MORE