BERLIN/ESSEN (dpa-AFX) - More and more electrolysis plants that produce hydrogen using electricity are being planned in Germany. Electrolysers with a capacity of 10.1 gigawatts are now planned by 2030, according to a study by the Energy Economics Institute at the University of Cologne (EWI) presented by energy company Eon on Wednesday. If all of these plants are realized, the German government's goal of installing 10 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity in Germany by 2030 would be achieved. In a similar EWI analysis in August 2023, the planned generation capacity by 2030 was still 8.7 gigawatts. The plants are mainly planned in the northern German states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.

Eon: Only a few projects have been finalized

Eon was cautious about the figures. There is a large discrepancy between planned projects and final investment decisions, according to Germany's largest energy supplier and distribution grid operator. "Of 88 announced projects, a final investment decision has only been made for 16 projects with a total planned generation capacity of 0.3 gigawatts - and thus for only around three percent of the announced electrolysis capacity." The Group believes that possible obstacles to final investment decisions include insufficient funds, strict conditions or delayed commitments. "There is also a lack of transport and storage infrastructure."

Installed capacity in Germany only 66 megawatts

"Germany is only at the beginning of a long road when it comes to ramping up hydrogen," emphasized Gabriël Clemens, Managing Director of the hydrogen subsidiary Eon Hydrogen. The clear upward trend initially looks good in theory. "In practice, we are still a long way from our goal." In February, the installed generation capacity was 66 megawatts, or 0.066 gigawatts.

Climate-neutral hydrogen is set to play a central role in the future economic system. As an energy source, it will generate electricity in new gas-fired power plants when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing. In industry, it is to replace carbon in steel production, for example, thus avoiding large quantities of climate-damaging carbon dioxide. The waste product is simply water./tob/DP/mis