Hamburg starts building hydrogen infrastructure

Construction of the hydrogen industry network HH-WIN and the Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub (HGHH) is underway after Robert Habeck, Germany’s Minister for Economics, handed over funding decisions on Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) worth over EUR 250 million. Both the network and the hub are being built on the site of the former Moorburg power plant and are due to go into operation in 2027.

“The climate-neutral economy will become a reality on the basis of the network, the import strategy and the domestic hydrogen production near the port,” Habeck stressed. The first section of Gasnetz Hamburg’s HH-WIN network is being built on Moorburger Strasse and Altenwerder Hauptdeich and will supply companies south of the Elbe with green hydrogen from 2027. The dismantling of the former Moorburg power plant is also progressing to make room for the hydrogen infrastructure. The goal of Hamburger Energiewerke and its project partner Luxcara is to build a 100-megawatt electrolyser for green hydrogen there from 2025. 

Habeck, who was accompanied by Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics and Jens Kerstan, Senator for the Environment, handed over the federal and state governments’ decisions in Hamburg. The EU Commission had approved the projects in February. “Germany is making progress towards a climate-neutral and sustainable economy by funding hydrogen projects, which are a key part of the value chain,” he pointed out. Around EUR 154 million are going towards the construction of the electrolyser, while EUR 126 million have been earmarked for the hydrogen network.

“Decarbonising society requires a functioning industry, which needs a reliable energy supply. We are making an important start here,” said Leonhard. Both hydrogen projects will supply hydrogen to industrial companies near the port and in the surrounding region. The HH-WIN network will be connected to the European pipeline system, allowing Hamburg to secure green energy from other regions, as well as ship imports and locally produced hydrogen. “Hamburg is becoming a key hydrogen centre in Germany and Europe, as we have an integrated approach across all stages of the value chain, i.e. hydrogen production, import structures, a hydrogen pipeline infrastructure and important customers in industry,” said Kerstan.