Green hydrogen: Saxony-Anhalt is committed to the clean industry of the future!

Green hydrogen: Saxony-Anhalt is committed to the clean industry of the future!

Köllen is in a spirit of optimism - the future belongs to green hydrogen! Recently, numerous companies and projects have taken a clear course towards a CO2-free industry. Green hydrogen is not only seen as an environmentally friendly energy source, but also increasingly as a decisive competitive factor.

A prominent example is the large bakery Aryzta in Eisleben, which is pushing forward a comprehensive hydrogen project in Saxony-Anhalt together with the copper producer KME Mansfeld and HMT Hettstedt. Here, electricity from wind and sun is converted into hydrogen using a hydrolyzer. Dirk Tempke from MVV Energie AG leads the project, which is known as the “Green Power MSH2” network. The initiative aims to significantly advance green hydrogen production, even if the current price for green hydrogen is six times more expensive than natural gas, as the MDR reports.

Challenges and new perspectives

HMT Managing Director Christian Schwarz emphasizes the need to adjust the price structure for natural gas and hydrogen. With 270 employees, HMT is planning extensive investments in the next five to seven years, but is critical of the political debates in Berlin, which have so far failed to provide clear investment strategies. The company aims to systematically link transport, production and energy supply in order to make the use of green hydrogen efficient.

The KoNSTanZE project, which is based at Robert Bosch GmbH in Homburg, is similarly ambitious. The aim is to gradually introduce CO2-free industrial operations through a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure. This draws its green hydrogen from renewable sources and makes it available for various applications, be it in transport, industrial processes or power generation. By using a digital H2 management tool, production is optimized, increasing its flexibility and efficiency, as Energy Research reports.

The look into the future

With the Hydrogen Acceleration Act, the federal government has set an important course to advance the expansion of hydrogen production. Electrolysers with a total of 10 gigawatts are to be installed by 2030, but currently only one percent of this capacity has been achieved. The industry still has some catching up to do and is often hesitant to make major investments, while at the same time the pressure to decarbonize processes is growing.

The demand for green hydrogen is high, and companies like De Nora Deutschland in Rodenbach are ready to tackle this challenge. With a workforce doubling in three years, the company is operating around the clock to meet high demand, says managing director Robert Scannell. Overall, Germany has the potential to import up to two-thirds of its hydrogen needs, with Norway already making plans to supply hydrogen – under CO2-recycling conditions.

The initiatives and projects surrounding green hydrogen show that a lot of momentum is needed in energy production - and hopefully this will soon be provided by wind and solar power. The road to decarbonization is rocky, but with smart strategies and a concerted effort, the industry could master the change.

It could soon “pay off” for buyers and users to take a closer look at hydrogen: development is underway and the market could soon come up with surprising options. Those interested should take a look at the progress over the next few months.

Whether in Saxony-Anhalt or elsewhere – the course is set! The example of the various projects outlines the exciting journey into a life without fossil fuels, entirely in the spirit of climate protection.

For more information, visit the articles from MDR, Energy research and ZDF Today.