Pilot project for testing industrial-scale green hydrogen production to be built in Germany

Construction has begun on a research centre in the German city of Leuna that will focus on testing and evaluating various ways of using electrolysis to produce hydrogen on an industrial scale. Research will also focus on other ways of storing surplus electricity from the grid in other substances, as well as the sustainable production of basic chemicals and synthetic fuels. The first projects are expected to begin next year.

The foundation stone was laid in Germany last week for a new pilot project in green hydrogen production. The resulting research centre will enable the investigation and assessment of various technical solutions for producing hydrogen through electrolysis on an industrial scale using only electricity from renewable sources, announced the Fraunhofer Institute's Centre for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes.

The centre will be located in Leuna, a city that forms part of the so-called chemical triangle in central Germany. This area is already home to more than 600 chemical and technology companies that use hydrogen. The research will therefore also include ways of using surplus renewable energy and green hydrogen to produce basic chemicals and synthetic fuels. The first research projects are scheduled to begin in 2021.

“Saxony-Anhalt offers ideal conditions [for this project]. We produce a great deal of electricity from renewable sources, there is strong demand for hydrogen from the chemical industry, and we also have an existing pipeline network and storage options,” said Professor Armin Willingmann, Saxony-Anhalt's state minister for economic affairs, science and digitalisation.

Economic viability will also be in focus

The centre will also focus on developing viable business plans and ways to use existing gas infrastructure. This is one of the basic prerequisites for a cost-effective transition to hydrogen, according to the European Union. At present, this issue is somewhat neglected and most European countries do not allow the parallel use of gas pipelines for natural gas and hydrogen.

The Fraunhofer Institute is Europe's largest institution for applied research. Its latest involvement in green hydrogen production comes in the context of the publication of Germany's National Hydrogen Strategy and the EU hydrogen strategy.

Cover photo: Foundation stone-laying ceremony. Source: Fraunhofer CBP