Suche
Mein Konto
Setback for green hydrogen: EWE still remains optimistic!
EWE is planning a 320-megawatt electrolyser for green hydrogen in Emden to support the steel industry by 2030.
Setback for green hydrogen: EWE still remains optimistic!
In northern Germany, the landscape of hydrogen production is shifting in an exciting but also challenging direction. EWE, a company from Oldenburg, is working hard to build an electrolyzer in Emden that will produce green hydrogen with an output of 320 megawatts from renewable energies such as wind and sun. This technology is particularly important for the steel industry's transition to low-CO2 steel.
But not everything goes according to plan. A recent decision by ArcelorMittal to stop the conversion of its steelworks in Bremen to green steel has a direct impact on EWE. The originally planned 50 megawatt electrolyser in Bremen will therefore not be built. The company justified the decision by saying that the production of CO2-reduced steel is economically unprofitable, while competition with cheap steel from China and the USA is gaining momentum. EWE boss Stefan Dohler comments on the situation and makes it clear that politics is required here. He sees the EU requirements as outdated and these significantly increase the costs of green hydrogen.
Optimism despite setbacks
Despite these setbacks, EWE remains optimistic: its hydrogen projects are not at risk overall. Torben Stührmann, who works in a research project called hyBit, reiterates the hope that technologies can be further developed to produce green hydrogen more cost-effectively. The price of green hydrogen is currently up to six times higher than that of blue hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas. EWE is also well on the way to implementing a hydrogen plant with an output of 400 megawatts by 2030, which will primarily be used in the steel industry.
An important hydrogen project in Hamburg is expected to be delayed for several years. This shows how challenging it is to implement such large-scale projects. The aim is to sustainably transform the steel industry and generate fewer CO2 emissions, which takes place in parallel with the Volkswagen initiative and similar projects in the industry.
Technological developments for steel production
In addition, a climate-neutral new building district is being developed in Esslingen on the site of a former freight yard, which also relies on green hydrogen. This project, which is being built on an area of 120,000 square meters, will receive funding of around 12 million euros and is intended to reduce CO2 emissions per resident to less than one tonne per year. An electrolysis plant in this new district could produce a maximum of 400 kg of hydrogen per day, which shows how diverse the approaches are to integrating hydrogen into different sectors.
In summary, it can be said that further development and innovation in hydrogen production is essential for a sustainable future. While the challenges in the steel industry continue, there are numerous projects that show that the technology is within reach and has the potential to help solve many problems. However, whether and how quickly the transition succeeds also lies in the hands of politicians and industry.