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Hydrogen dream in Leipzig: Project is in danger of finally failing!
Leipzig's hydrogen project is about to end: investors are withdrawing, possible consequences for the region and structural change.
Hydrogen dream in Leipzig: Project is in danger of finally failing!
Where are the hydrogen projects in Germany headed? A question that is currently occupying many minds, especially in the Leipzig area. HH2E AG's hydrogen project in the south of Leipzig is about to come to an end. The withdrawal of investors and the insolvency of the parent company put the project in dire straits reports Blackout News. The plan was to create a sustainable plant for the production of green hydrogen on the site of a former lignite-fired power plant. This should not only involve a significant financial investment of 250 million euros, but also create 150 new jobs.
The decision now made is met with disappointment in the region. Political voices from Borna and the surrounding area describe the situation as a “serious setback” for the region. These investments were seen as a source of hope for the desired structural change in the Leipzig coalfield, which is urgently needed. The building permit for the facility has not yet been received, and financing remains uncertain. If there is no urgent change, the hydrogen project could ultimately fail.
The challenges for hydrogen projects
But this is not just a local problem. At the national level, hydrogen projects face similar uncertainties. In Germany there will be little usable surplus electricity from renewable energies notes the taz. The excess electricity required for electrolyzers to produce hydrogen is primarily generated in summer and on days off. This means that the operating hours of the electrolyzers remain manageable and additional costs can arise with little benefit.
Another problem is that installing additional electrolyzers often only results in a small increase in operating hours. One could almost think that these are subsidy transactions. The power supply for hydrogen projects could be more stable in the long term in countries like Scandinavia or France, which makes operations in this country even more problematic.
Political strategies and the role of standardization
To counteract this, political institutions have launched different hydrogen strategies. The national hydrogen strategy, which was first presented in 2020 and most recently updated in July 2023, aims to increase electrolysis capacity to at least 10 GW and set up an action program for the development of a green hydrogen economy reports DIN.
An important point here is standardization, which plays a central role in the development and establishment of a hydrogen economy. Uniform standards and certification systems are intended to promote international cooperation and the quality of hydrogen technologies. Because only if the quality is right can trust in this new energy source increase.
In addition, Germany relies on international partnerships for water supply, for example with countries such as Australia and Namibia, in order to develop long-term import strategies. This shows that hydrogen represents not just a local but a global challenge that requires innovative solutions and a joint approach.
It remains to be seen whether the projects in Germany, especially the one in the Leipzig area, can be realized despite these challenges. The search for new investors and funding has already begun, but without secured financing, the hydrogen project may soon be history.