Enertrag has broken ground for a new 10 MW electrolyzer at the Osterweddingen industrial park. The plant will produce 900 tons of green hydrogen per year, which will be obtained from wind power from the Uckermark region. The company intends to obtain the green electricity from its wind farm in the Uckermark.
In addition to Enertrag's partner companies, many representatives from state and local politics were also present at the ground-breaking ceremony. The PEM electrolyzer was manufactured and supplied by French manufacturer Elogen. The company, which is part of the GTT Group, had already announced last January that it intended to supply the system to Enertrag and install it near Magdeburg in 2024.
The electrolyser, which is located just under two kilometers from the planned Intel chip factory, is intended to cover the hydrogen requirements of local industrial companies. In the first expansion stage, it will initially produce around 900 tons of hydrogen per year. Enertrag intends to obtain the green electricity required for this from the company's own wind farm. The capacity of the electrolyser can be increased to 20 MW; an expansion to a capacity of over 100 MW is also being planned.
Partnerships in the mobility sector
The hydrogen is also to be used as a fuel for long-haul transportation. In the medium term, the energy company intends to feed the energy carrier into the planned hydrogen pipelines of grid operator Ontras. In the long term, it will be used to generate electricity during dark doldrums and relieve the power grid during fluctuations.
Enetrrag plans to set up a hydrogen mobility hub in Osterweddingen with Munich-based Keyou GmbH. As part of a "Hydrogen Mobility as a Service" approach, Keyou offers fleet operators the opportunity to convert their diesel vehicles into hydrogen vehicles. The hydrogen from the new Enertrag electrolyzer will then be used in the hydrogen combustion engines of the converted trucks.
Enertrag is also planning a collaboration with Berlin-based Ryze Power GmbH in the construction machinery sector. The company operates alternative fuel infrastructures that will also use hydrogen from the new plant and thus ensure its utilization.