A new electrolyser is to produce green hydrogen from renewable energy sources, marking a step toward establishing German hydrogen centres in Chemnitz.
The Chemnitz-based energy supplier Eins Energie is receiving around €1.6m for the construction of a hydrogen electrolyser and the conversion of existing natural gas pipelines for use with green hydrogen from renewable energies.
With the construction of the plant, the Free State of Saxony is supporting the further development of the first of four new hydrogen centres nationwide, which began operations in Chemnitz last year.
“The project is making an important contribution to strengthening Chemnitz as a research location and to the development of a hydrogen-based industry in Saxony,” commented State Secretary Sören Trillenberg.
Electrolyser will supply green hydrogen until the 2030s
The funding comes from the European Union’s Just Transition Fund (JTF) to support the transition to a climate-neutral economy.
Eins Energie plans to construct an electrolyser with a capacity of 240 kilowatts. A downstream stationary hydrogen storage unit will store around 115 cubic metres of the energy carrier.
Chemnitz is one of four locations of the German Government’s National Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Center (ITZ). A new building is to be constructed on the city’s technology campus in several construction phases by 2029.
According to the ministry, Eins Energie’s green hydrogen project will secure the base-load hydrogen supply for the construction area until the 2030s and could be further increased in the future.
Phasing out coal use in Saxony
In total, the Saxon lignite regions will receive EU funding of €645m for structural change until 2027. The majority of this will go to the Lusatian coalfield. The Central German mining district will receive €200m, and the city of Chemnitz will receive €70m.
The Hydrogen Innovation Center in Chemnitz primarily supports small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups in developing new business areas for green hydrogen technologies.
To this end, laboratories, test benches and workshops are being built to efficiently develop new technologies and products to market maturity.
