The 30 MW electrolyser at the Energiepark Bad Lauchstädt in Germany has produced hydrogen for the first time, marking the start of integrated testing of the project’s renewable power, electrolysis, processing and transport systems.
The pressurised alkaline electrolyser, jointly operated by Uniper and VNG Handel & Vertrieb (VNG H&V) through Elektrolyse Mitteldeutschland GmbH, uses renewable electricity from a nearby 50 MW wind farm to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
The electrolyser comprises three 10 MW modules, each containing two electrochemical stacks. Construction began in June 2023, and full commissioning of the integrated hydrogen system is scheduled for 2027.
The next phase will test how the different components operate together under real-world conditions. This includes electricity supply from the wind farm, hydrogen production, gas processing and transport.
The project uses about 25 km of repurposed natural gas pipeline owned by ONTRAS Gastransport, which has been converted for hydrogen transport. The hydrogen is intended for industrial use at TotalEnergies’ refinery in nearby Leuna.
VNG H&V is responsible for marketing the hydrogen, while Uniper contributes project development and hydrogen value-chain expertise. The companies expect the anchor customer to purchase around 3,000 tonnes of hydrogen for industrial applications in 2027.
“The key now is to ensure that the entire process chain operates reliably,” said Holger Kreetz, COO of Uniper.
The project partners are investing €210 million in the Energiepark, including €44 million of funding through Germany’s Real-World Laboratory for the Energy Transition programme.
The project is designed to demonstrate an integrated green hydrogen value chain at industrial scale, including production, transport, marketing and end use. Its performance during the commissioning phase will provide operational experience for the development of further hydrogen projects in central Germany.
