Leuna receives 4.3 million euros for a new electrolyzer – green hydrogen for the future!

Leuna receives 4.3 million euros for a new electrolyzer – green hydrogen for the future!

A breath of fresh air is blowing through Saxony-Anhalt, where the construction of a new electrolyzer to produce green hydrogen has been announced. The chemical company Linde is planning to build another electrolyser in Leuna with a connected load of 5 megawatts. This is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026 and will produce around 450 tons of hydrogen annually. This brings the region’s ambitious goals within reach. Energy Transition Minister Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann presented the corresponding funding notice of around 4.3 million euros, which comes from funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). These funds are intended to support investments in the intelligent coupling of the electricity, gas and heat energy sectors, as Magdeburg Klickt reports.

Expanding electrolysis capacity could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region by more than 4,500 tons per year. Linde already has an existing plant with an output of 24 megawatts, which plays an important role in the decarbonization of chemical processes. The hydrogen produced from these plants flows directly to customers via existing pipelines.

Improved funding conditions

The Ministry of Energy has also significantly improved the funding conditions for the construction of electrolyzers. By increasing the maximum subsidy from 650,000 to two million euros per megawatt of output, investors can now jump on the hydrogen train in an even more targeted manner. In a recently published program, a total of 87 million euros are to flow into the hydrogen economy of the Central German Revier in order to promote projects in energy-intensive sectors, such as the chemical industry. Applications for this funding can be submitted until August 7, 2025, and the first call for funding is aimed specifically at electrolysers and hydrogen storage, as H2-News reports.

As part of the second funding call, “Saxony-Anhalt Future Energies/Green Hydrogen”, 29 million euros are available to support measures to link the energy sectors. This includes, among other things, the production, storage and transport of green hydrogen as well as the construction of new hydrogen pipelines.

Green hydrogen projects in the region

Saxony-Anhalt is ambitious in its plan to increase the installed electrolysis capacity to 1,000 megawatts by 2030, while Germany-wide is aiming for a target of 10,000 megawatts. The installed electrolysis capacity in Saxony-Anhalt is already around 60 megawatts. In addition, several hydrogen projects are on hold, such as Mibrag's large electrolyzer at the Profen site. The planned hydrogen production could make a significant contribution to climate neutrality in the industry. In this context, the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park should also be highlighted, where hydrogen is produced using wind power and transported via pipelines to the Leuna Chemical Park.

The entire endeavor is accompanied by an increasingly growing interest in clean energy. “We are doing good business with green hydrogen,” emphasizes Willingmann and is optimistic about the coming developments, which have their challenges but hold the potential for a sustainable future. This is an exciting time for all companies that want to position themselves in the hydrogen economy. The chances are good that Saxony-Anhalt will soon become a hotspot for green energy. Further information can be found at Volksstimme.