Bad Lauchstädt energy park: 30 MW electrolyser produces first green hydrogen, full commissioning planned for 2027
Uniper and VNG H&V have produced the first green hydrogen at the 30 MW electrolyser in Bad Lauchstädt. Joint testing of the whole chain now begins; industrial use is planned from 2027.
The 30-megawatt electrolyser at the Energiepark Bad Lauchstädt in Germany has produced green hydrogen for the first time, according to a press release published on presseportal.de. The plant is operated by Uniper and VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH (VNG H&V). It uses electricity from a connected wind farm to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. presseportal.de
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The energy park is now entering a phase in which the components of the overall system are tested together. Completion of the full commissioning of the integrated hydrogen system is planned for 2027.
Electrolyser design and operators
The pressurised alkaline electrolyser consists of three modules of ten megawatts each. Each module has two stacks, where the electrochemical conversion of water into hydrogen and oxygen takes place. Construction began with the groundbreaking in June 2023. The electrolysis plant is supplied by Sunfire.
Uniper and VNG H&V are responsible for construction and operation through their joint venture, Elektrolyse Mitteldeutschland GmbH (EMG). Uniper contributes its experience in hydrogen projects along the value chain, while VNG H&V markets the hydrogen produced at the site. presseportal.de
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According to VNG H&V managing director Konstantin von Oldenburg, the anchor customer is to take about 3,000 tonnes of hydrogen next year and use it industrially.
From wind farm to refinery
The connected wind farm has an installed capacity of about 50 megawatts and supplies renewable power to the electrolyser. For onward transport, the project uses a former natural gas pipeline of ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH, about 25 kilometres long, converted for hydrogen. The hydrogen is intended for industrial use at the TotalEnergies refinery in Leuna.
The next step is to optimise the interaction of power generation, electrolysis, gas treatment and transport under real conditions and to coordinate the technical processes. presseportal.de
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The energy park is a real-world laboratory covering production, storage, transport, marketing and use of green hydrogen. The project partners are investing a total of 210 million euros, including 44 million euros of funding from the 7th Energy Research Programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). VNG AG leads the consortium.
