EUR 2.5 million for climate-friendly energy

2 September 2024

Biogas plant in Bützberg in Hamburg Metropolitan Region to increase biomethane volumes and green hydrogen

The Bützburg biogas and composting plant has purchased a new electrolyser to produce green hydrogen - and to increase biomethane by 20 per cent, a press release saiy Friday (August 23, 2024). The electrolyser in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region is the main part of the “Synergy of Power to Gas and Biowaste Treatment” project, which is the first of its kind in Germany, according to Stadtreinigung Hamburg. The German Ministry for Economics and Climate Protection is putting EUR 2.5 million towards the purchase and three-year test operation of the electrolyser

Synergy of power-to-gas and biowaste treatment

"The mix of green hydrogen production and increased biogas yield from a biogas and composting plant should prove highly efficient. Biomethane will lower the amounts of fossil natural gas needed and cut emissions," said Jens Kerstan, Senator for the Environment. The Bützburg biogas and composting plant, operated by Stadtreinigung Hamburg (SRH), has turned organic waste into compost and supplied green energy to Hamburg for over ten years. The electrolyser has a capacity of 1.1 megawatts and is due to go into operation in November.

Green hydrogen for biowaste fermentation

"This holds huge potential for innovation. The use of green hydrogen in the fermentation of household biowaste is a technological novelty," said Mike Blicker, project coordinator of the North German Living Lab (NRL). The project is part of a joint endeavour involving over 50 movers and shakers in energy, industry, science and politics towards climate neutrality. This provides an ideal platform for close collaboration between research and application partners and transfer into practice. If the procedure proves successful in Bützburg, it could also be transferred to other towns and cities and contribute to the sustainable production of energy in future.
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