RWE has secured contracts for three hydrogen-compatible gas-fired power stations in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with a combined tender capacity of approximately 2,100 MW.
The awards were made by the Federal Network Agency under the Electricity Supply Security and Capacity Act (StromVKG). The projects comprise a 730 MW plant at Voerde, a 700 MW facility at Weisweiler and a further 700 MW plant at Werne.
The capacity figures are expressed as reduced megawatts (rMW). Under the tender rules, only 85% of the installed capacity of gas-fired plants was counted towards the auction, meaning the figures do not represent the projects’ full installed output.
The three projects were among those selected for offering capacity at the lowest cost over a 15-year period. They are intended to provide dispatchable electricity during extended periods when wind and solar generation are insufficient to meet demand.
RWE said it had begun preparatory work ahead of the awards, including commissioning planning for regulatory approvals, securing manufacturing capacity for key components and starting permitting procedures. Construction of the first power station is expected to begin within weeks.
RWE chief executive Markus Krebber said the plants would support electricity supply security while using technology designed to be compatible with hydrogen.
The company currently operates approximately 4.2 GW of gas-fired generation capacity in Germany. It plans to invest around €9 billion in flexible generation, battery storage and hydrogen production facilities by 2031.
