The core of the project will be the construction of a production plant for green hydrogen in Essen’s city harbour. This should create the necessary hydrogen supply for the mobility of the future and a CO2-neutral industry. The aim is to meet the growing demand for sustainable energy in the Rhine-Ruhr region before the nationwide hydrogen core network is fully developed. By producing hydrogen locally, green hydrogen can be provided more cost-effectively and then supplied to customers in the region. E.ON Hydrogen is currently in the advanced planning phase of the project.
Hydrogen production in Essen city harbour is expected to start in 2027. The electricity to operate the production plant will come from renewable energy sources. The plant therefore will produce green hydrogen, which is ideally suited for use in fuel cells and is RFNBO-compliant.
The planned plant will have an electrolysis capacity of around 20 megawatts and is expected to produce 2,300 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. This hydrogen will be filled into containers via filling stations and transported to end customers in the Rhine-Ruhr region by truck. The use of hydrogen will enable companies to save up to 25,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. In addition, E.ON Hydrogen plans to utilise the waste heat from the electrolyser and feed it into the local district heating network of Iqony Fernwärme GmbH. An on-site hydrogen storage system will optimise hydrogen production so that phases with low electricity prices can be fully utilised.
Expanded infrastructure and integration E.ON Hydrogen plans to build a public hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) for heavy duty vehicles and cars just 300 metres from the production plant. This geographical proximity enables seamless integration and forms a comprehensive hydrogen hub that will efficiently support both the production and distribution of hydrogen in the region. Funding of 2.3 million euros has already been approved by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The use of a 350 and a 700 bar fuel pump at the hydrogen refuelling station will enable the refuelling of all fuel cell vehicles (FCEV) that are currently available on the market.
Meaning for the region
The industrial nature of Essen’s city harbour, with potential hydrogen consumers in the immediate vicinity, makes it an ideal location. Synergies also result from the planned hydrogen pipeline projects of Essener Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (EVV). E.ON Hydrogen and EVV had already signed a letter of intent last year agreeing to exchange information on their respective hydrogen projects in Essen and to work closely together.
Gabriël Clemens, Managing Director of E.ON Hydrogen, emphasises the importance of the planned project: “The HHE project is a pioneering initiative that will help shape the future of the hydrogen economy in the Rhine-Ruhr region. With the new electrolyser in Essen’s city harbour, we are not only focusing on innovative technology, but also on a sustainable energy supply for the region. We are looking forward to taking this important step towards the energy transition and CO2 neutrality.”
“The HydroHarborEssen project will be an important step for the hydrogen market ramp-up in Essen. The planned electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling station will help us to achieve our targets for reducing CO2 emissions in industry and heavyduty transportation. Essen is thus once again demonstrating its role as a pioneer of the energy transition and as an innovative location for sustainable energy solutions,” says Thomas Kufen, Lord Mayor of the City of Essen.
EWG Managing Director Andre Boschem adds: “As a business development organisation, we have intensively accompanied and supported HydroHarborEssen from the very beginning, be it in the initial contact with customers in Essen or in the search for suitable land. We are delighted that this hydrogen project is being driven forward in Essen and is strengthening our city’s position as a driver of the energy transition.”
The project marks an important milestone in the decarbonisation of critical sectors such as logistics and industry and makes a significant contribution to achieving the ambitious goals of the German government and the EU to become a leader in the use of hydrogen.
Interested companies and municipalities in the Rhine-Ruhr region now have the opportunity to register their hydrogen demand and submit a consumption estimate.
