Eon Hydrogen, a subsidiary of Essen-based energy company E.on, plans a 20-MW electrolyzer in Essen's city harbor. From 2027, it aims to produce 2,300 tons of hydrogen annually for industry and mobility. The project also includes a hydrogen fueling station and leverages synergies with local partners. Interested companies can register their demand.
The planned facility in northern Essen will have an electrolysis capacity of about 20 megawatts, the company announced on Tuesday (September 10). It is expected to produce 2,300 tons of green hydrogen per year (about 6 per day). The energy carrier will be filled into containers and then transported by truck to yet unspecified end customers in the region. By using hydrogen, companies could save up to 25,000 tons of CO2 per year.
The production will exclusively use electricity from renewable sources. The produced hydrogen is said to be of high purity and thus suitable for operating fuel cell buses. Additionally, Eon Hydrogen plans to feed the waste heat from the electrolyzer into the local district heating network of Iqony Fernwärme GmbH.
Hydrogen Hub with Fueling Station Planned
An on-site hydrogen storage facility is intended to optimize production by allowing full utilization of phases with low electricity prices. Furthermore, the Eon subsidiary plans to build a public hydrogen fueling station for heavy-duty vehicles and cars 300 meters away from the production facility.
The proximity of the fueling station and electrolyzer is intended to create a hydrogen hub that supports the production and distribution of hydrogen in the region. The funding commitment of 2.3 million euros from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has already been secured.
Eon Hydrogen describes Essen's city harbor as an ideal location, as the industrially characterized region offers a large number of potential hydrogen customers. Synergies also arise from the proximity to the planned hydrogen pipeline projects of Essener Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (EVV). Eon Hydrogen and EVV agreed last year to cooperate closely on their respective H2 projects in Essen.
Essen as a "Pioneer of the Energy Transition"
Gabriël Clemens, Managing Director of Eon Hydrogen, described the project as a "pioneering venture that will help shape the future of the hydrogen economy in the Rhine-Ruhr region":
"With the planned facility in Essen's city harbor, we are not only focusing on innovative technology but also on sustainable energy supply for the region. We look forward to taking this important step towards the energy transition and CO2 neutrality."
Interested companies and municipalities in the Rhine-Ruhr region now have the opportunity to report their needs and provide an estimate of their uptake. Thomas Kufen, Mayor of the City of Essen, said in a press release that the City of Essen is a "pioneer of the energy transition" and an "innovative location for sustainable energy solutions".
