Statkraft, Europe's largest producer of renewable energies, submitted the approval documents for a 10 MW electrolysis plant for the production of green hydrogen at the Emden power plant site at the end of March 2023. The competent approval authorities will now decide on the application within the framework of the legal requirements.
On the basis of electricity from renewable energy sources, green hydrogen is to be generated in Emden to supply the regional transport sector. The existing infrastructure of the site will be used for the construction and operation of the plant. The electrolyser with an installed capacity of 10 MW can produce around 200 kg of hydrogen per hour. This corresponds to the annual requirement of around 100 emission-free trucks, which are to be supplied by hydrogen filling stations in the region.
"For the local production of green hydrogen, the use of existing infrastructure is crucial for economic and ecological reasons," says Helge-Jürgen Beil, Vice President Hydrogen at Statkraft in Germany. "The construction of the first electrolysis plant at Statkraft's location is a decisive step in order to make the Emden energy location decisive and future-proof and to contribute to the sustainable development of the East Frisian transport sector." During the ongoing planning phase, the technical as well as the economic implementation of the project will be examined
. Statkraft will only make an investment decision once all planning has been completed and all necessary approvals and pre-contractual agreements have been submitted.
Feedback from the responsible approval authorities is not expected until December 2023 at the earliest. If the permit is granted, the preparatory construction work can then begin. Accordingly, the first green hydrogen could be produced in mid-2025.
Statkraft operates a biomass cogeneration plant at the site with an installed capacity of 20 MW, from which up to 30 MW of green district heating is generated and delivered to the VW plant in Emden. In addition, Statkraft operates a gas-fired combined cycle power plant with a total output of 450 MW, the gas turbine of which has been prequalified for the supply of capacity reserve since 2020.
About Statkraft
Statkraft is an international leader in hydropower and Europe's largest producer of renewable energy. The group generates electricity from water, wind, sun and gas, supplies district heating and is a major player in energy trading worldwide. Statkraft employs 5,300 people in 21 countries.
