EUR 250 million for hydrogen projects in Hamburg

17 July 2024

German government and city investing in "Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub" and HH-WIN hydrogen network - funding decisions handed over

The German Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) handed overTuesday (July 16, 2024) funding decisions on two “Important Project of Common European Interest” (IPCEI) worth over EUR 250 million. This comes after the EU Commission approved the funds in February. Hamburger Energiewerke (HEnW) and its partner Luxcara will receive funds to build the "Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub" (HGHH). Gasnetz Hamburg will receive funds to build the first 40 kilometres of Hamburg's hydrogen industrial network HH-WIN. Both infrastructure projects will form the core of the hydrogen sector in Hamburg.

Hamburg as a European hydrogen hub

"Hamburg is positioning itself as a European hydrogen hub. By doing so, we are opening a major gateway to the future of our business location and creating prospects for development," said Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics. As part of the HGHH project, the construction of a 100 megawatt electrolyser for green hydrogen will go ahead on the site of the former Moorburg coal-fired power plant in 2025 and will go into operation in 2027. Construction of the HH-Win hydrogen network is due to begin this summer and will ensure the climate-neutral energy supply of large industrial companies in the port. "This will enable our port to produce, import and transport H2 in future and use it in industry and logistics," Leonhard added. The hydrogen industrial network is due to be completed by 2027.

Hydrogen projects advancing energy transition

Hydrogen projects are fundamental to decarbonizing industry and the energy transition. The aim is to increase the production of green hydrogen for local industry, enable rapid connection to existing hydrogen grids and to reach the city's climate targets. "These important projects will make Hamburg an important hydrogen centre in Germany and Europe, as we are taking an integrated approach along every stage of the value chain," said Jens Kerstan, Senator for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture.

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