The site of the decommissioned Moorburg coal-fired power plant in Hamburg is being transformed through an interagency project for future hydrogen production. As part of the Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub, various existing power plant components have already been dismantled or repurposed. The construction of the 100-MW electrolyzer is scheduled to begin in early 2025, with a long-term goal of scaling up to an 800-MW capacity.
The Moorburg power plant, along with its equipment, personnel, decommissioning obligations, and all existing permits, was transferred to the ownership of Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH in December 2023. Currently, a modular deconstruction of the site is underway to enable the most comprehensive reuse of existing facilities and buildings, particularly for the production of green hydrogen. The start of construction for the electrolyzer is planned for 2025, with initial areas being handed over to the future operator on schedule.
Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economy and Innovation, stated, "The Port of Hamburg will increasingly become a crucial site for energy supply – alongside the handling of energy carriers, they will also be produced here in the future. For energy-intensive companies, the stable availability and reliability of energy supply are key factors. We aim to enable the industry to transition to sustainable processes to keep Hamburg competitive as an industrial location. Hydrogen plays an important role in this. The industry already has significant expertise required for future hydrogen applications. Due to its high demand volumes, it also has a key role in building a green hydrogen economy."
Hydrogen Industrial Park
Energy Hub Moorburg GmbH (EHM) will operate similarly to an industrial park operator, offering areas, infrastructure, and services specifically tailored for electrolysis projects. As part of the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on hydrogen, a 100-MW electrolysis capacity is planned, which will gradually be expanded to an anticipated 800-MW. The consortium HGHH, comprising Hamburger Energiewerke and Luxcara, is responsible for implementing the 100-MW electrolyzer at the Moorburg site within the framework of the IPCEI hydrogen project. The project is funded with 1.541 billion euros from federal and state funds, with Hamburg's share amounting to 462 million euros. The European Commission granted the corresponding approval in the spring of 2024. The delivery of the funding notice by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action is imminent.
In the first module, scheduled for completion by the end of 2024, the gypsum storage, filter ash silos, and flue gas cleaning systems will be demolished to clear the required areas for the 100-MW electrolyzer. In parallel with the construction of this first electrolyzer, further components of the power plant will be dismantled in module 2 (scheduled for completion by the end of 2027) to clear the area for scaling up the electrolysis capacity. This area primarily includes the two boiler houses and the machine house.
