A Siemens emblem in Germany. The industrial big says {that a} newly commissioned inexperienced hydrogen plant within the nation will use wind and solar energy from the Wunsiedel Energy Park.
Daniel Karmann | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
A inexperienced hydrogen technology plant described as one of many largest in Germany is open, with industrial big Siemens saying it’s going to produce 1,350 tons of hydrogen yearly.
In a press release Wednesday, Siemens stated the ability would use wind and solar energy from the Wunsiedel Energy Park in Upper Franconia.
The hydrogen shall be produced utilizing an 8.75 megawatt electrolyzer. Siemens stated the hydrogen could be primarily used “within the area’s industrial and business enterprises, but in addition in highway transport.”
Following its commissioning, Siemens stated a handover of the plant to WUN H2, its operator, had taken place. Siemens Financial Services has a forty five% stake in WUN H2. Riessner Gase and Stadtwerke Wunsiedel, a utility, have stakes of 45% and 10%, respectively.
“Talks relating to the enlargement of the plant’s capability to 17.5 megawatts are already underway,” Siemens stated.
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Described by the International Energy Agency as a “versatile power service,” hydrogen has a various vary of functions and may be deployed in a variety of industries.
It may be produced in a variety of methods. One methodology contains utilizing electrolysis, with an electrical present splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen.
If the electrical energy used on this course of comes from a renewable supply resembling wind or photo voltaic then some name it “inexperienced” or “renewable” hydrogen. Today, the overwhelming majority of hydrogen technology relies on fossil fuels.
‘A sport changer for Europe’
Siemens’ announcement got here on the identical day that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed assist for hydrogen throughout her State of the Union deal with.
In remarks translated on the Commission’s web site, von der Leyen stated “hydrogen generally is a sport changer for Europe. We want to maneuver our hydrogen economic system from area of interest to scale.”
In her speech, von der Leyen additionally referred to a “2030 goal to supply ten million tons of renewable hydrogen within the EU, every year.”
“To obtain this, we should create a market maker for hydrogen, so as to bridge the funding hole and join future provide and demand,” she stated.
To this finish, the EU’s von der Leyen additionally introduced the creation of a European Hydrogen Bank. It is hoped this may have the ability to make investments 3 billion euros ($2.99 billion) to assist the long run marketplace for hydrogen.
Over the previous few years, a variety of multinational corporations have tried to put down a marker within the inexperienced hydrogen sector. Within Germany itself, oil and gasoline big Shell final 12 months introduced {that a} 10 MW electrolyzer had began operations.
In July 2022, it was introduced that plans to construct a serious hydrogen plant within the Netherlands would go forward following a ultimate funding determination by subsidiaries of Shell.
In a press release on the time, Shell stated the Holland Hydrogen I facility could be “Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen plant” when operations begin in 2025.
According to the agency, the 200 MW electrolyzer shall be situated within the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest seaport, producing as a lot as 60,000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen day by day.
In June of this 12 months, one other oil and gasoline supermajor, BP, stated it had agreed to take a 40.5% fairness stake within the Asian Renewable Energy Hub, an unlimited undertaking deliberate for Australia.
BP stated it could change into the operator of the event, including that it had “the potential to be one of many largest renewables and inexperienced hydrogen hubs on the planet.”