Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck visited the construction site for a hydrogen electrolyzer at the former Moorburg coal-fired power plant and handed over federal funding notices totaling more than 250 million euros. “What a beautiful day, not just in terms of the weather, but also politically and in terms of energy policy,” said the Green politician. Moorburg is an example of the energy transition. “With the dismantling of the old coal-fired power plant and the development of a hydrogen economy, the Moorburg site will become a central point for the decarbonization of industry and the energy sector in Hamburg and Germany.”
154 million euros for Green Hydrogen Hub
The so-called IPCEI funding decisions are divided into two areas. One decision, worth a good 154 million euros, relates to the so-called Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub, which involves the construction of the 100-megawatt electrolyzer itself. This is to be built from 2025 and produce green hydrogen from 2027.
The energy for this will come from renewable energies such as solar and wind power. “Thanks to the funding decision, we can now order the 100-megawatt electrolyzer and commission the construction at short notice,” said Alexandra von Bernstorff, managing director of the Hamburg partner company Luxcara. The city of Hamburg is reportedly providing around 46 million euros of the funding.
The other decision, worth a good 126 million euros – around 38 million euros come from the city – concerns the construction of the Hamburg hydrogen industry network, which has already begun. “This shows that Hamburg is serious about this,” said Environment Senator Jens Kerstan (Greens). The Hanseatic city wants to and will become one of the most important green hydrogen locations in Europe. Economics Senator Melanie Leonhard (SPD) emphasized that Hamburg will cover the entire value chain from production to import to supplying industry with green hydrogen.
Plan: Up to 800 megawatt production
The spokesman for the management of Hamburger Energiewerke, Christian Heine, said that there are plans to realize up to 800 megawatts of electrolysis in the future. “Hamburg is surrounded by renewable energies, in Schleswig-Holstein, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but also in northern Lower Saxony.” This green electricity can then be processed directly in Moorburg. The managing director of Gasnetz Hamburg, Michael Dammann, spoke of an almost historic day: “We are making Hamburg a gateway to the hydrogen world.”
