Five regional hydrogen clusters you should know

Germany becomes a hydrogen republic: According to H2-Digital.com, 266 projects are planned nationwide (Source: Vulkan Verlag)

Regional H2 clusters play a key role in building the hydrogen economy in Germany. They promote industrial transformation, strengthen the resilience of the energy system, and create local added value. For manufacturers of h2-ready industrial valves, seals, and fittings, these clusters offer great opportunities: They can test their products in real applications, scale them, and develop tailored business models. The clusters also serve as nuclei for the decarbonization of various sectors and enable the development of domestic value chains. Thus, they contribute significantly to achieving the goals of the National Hydrogen Strategy. Sounds abstract? Here are 5 important H2 clusters you should know.

Northern Germany: eFarm Nordfriesland

eFarm North Frisia, launched in December 2018, is a showcase project for regional hydrogen clusters in Germany. Led by GP JOULE GmbH, it unites over 20 partners from business and science. The project uses the abundant wind energy in the region to produce green hydrogen, creating a complete, local value chain.

The core of the project consists of five electrolyzers with a total capacity of 2.5 megawatts, installed at various locations in North Frisia and Dithmarschen. The produced hydrogen is transported via a regional pipeline system to two hydrogen filling stations. There, it supplies a fleet of initially 5, later up to 60 fuel cell trucks as well as buses in public transport.

The "eFarm" produces hydrogen from wind and solar power for public transport and the heat market in North Frisia. Electrolyzers from the Augsburg-based manufacturer H-Tec Systems are used (Source: H-Tec Systems)

For valve manufacturers, eFarm offers exciting opportunities. The various plant components - from electrolyzers to compressors and storage facilities to filling stations - require a variety of specialized valves that must meet the requirements of hydrogen applications. These include high-pressure valves, safety valves, and sealing systems that are compatible with the special properties of hydrogen.

eFarm demonstrates not only the technical feasibility of a regional hydrogen economy but also its economic potential. It creates local jobs, strengthens regional value creation, and contributes to the decarbonization of the transport sector. As a pioneering project, it also provides insights for the further expansion of hydrogen infrastructure in Germany.

Commercial operation in EBL is scheduled to begin at the end of 2025 (Source: Energiepark Bad Lauchstädt)

Eastern Germany: Energiepark Bad Lauchstädt (EBL)

The EBL, started in 2019, is a groundbreaking project for the integration of green hydrogen into the energy system. Led by VNG AG, it unites partners such as Uniper, DBI, Terrawatt, and ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH. The project covers the entire hydrogen value chain: A wind farm with 40 MW capacity drives an electrolyzer that produces up to 1200 tons of green hydrogen annually. This is stored in an underground cavern - a novelty of this scale for Germany.

The use of hydrogen is diverse: It is fed into the existing natural gas network, used in the chemical industry in nearby Leuna, and is intended to be available for mobility in the future. Network operator ONTRAS plans to build a 20 km long hydrogen pipeline connecting the energy park with the Leuna chemical site. Here, refinery operator Total Energies is a major customer of green hydrogen from Leuna. The supply contract is one of the first long-term offtake agreements between an H2 producer and an industrial customer.

A main feature of the EBL is hydrogen storage: The project uses an existing salt cavern, previously used for natural gas storage, to store large amounts of green hydrogen. With a volume of about 50 million cubic meters, this is one of the largest planned hydrogen storage facilities in Europe.

The cavern makes it possible to balance fluctuations in production from renewable energies and ensure a constant supply to customers. The storage is scientifically monitored to gain important insights into the behavior of hydrogen under high-pressure conditions and the integrity of the cavern structure. The storage concept could serve as a blueprint for similar projects throughout Germany.

Find out more in this interview.

At the end of August, the supervisory board of Stadtwerke Stuttgart gave the green light: In the "Green Hydrogen Hub Stuttgart", which forms part of H2 GeNeSiS, four electrolyzers are to produce up to 1,000 tons of green hydrogen annually from 2026. (Source: Hafen Stuttgart GmbH)

Southern Germany: H2 GeNeSiS Stuttgart

The GeNeSiS project (Holistic Energy Management System in Stuttgart) represents an approach to integrating hydrogen technologies into urban energy systems. Initiated in 2022, the project aims to implement cross-sector energy management in Stuttgart's port and adjacent areas.

The core of the project consists of four electrolyzers that use surplus electricity from renewable sources to produce green hydrogen. The facility is designed to have a capacity of about 10 MW, thus producing around 1,000 tons of hydrogen per year. The hydrogen is stored locally and used in various ways: A fuel cell combined heat and power plant with 400 kW electrical and 500 kW thermal output serves for reconversion to electricity and heat generation. In addition, a hydrogen filling station supplies fuel cell buses and trucks.

The project consortium includes Stuttgart's public transport company (Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG), Netze BW, the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), and other partners. They are testing the technical and economic feasibility of an integrated hydrogen-based energy system in an urban context.

A central element of the GeNeSiS project is the construction of a roughly 5-kilometer-long hydrogen pipeline connecting Stuttgart's port with the Bad Cannstatt district. This pipeline, planned and implemented by Netze BW, enables efficient transport of the produced hydrogen to various consumption points in the city area and thus represents an important infrastructure component for local hydrogen distribution. GeNeSiS aims to provide insights into the scalability and transferability of hydrogen technologies in urban spaces and thus contribute to the development of new energy concepts for cities.

View of the MHKW in Frankfurt am Main (Source: Mainova)

Central Germany: H2 Region Rhine-Main

The "H2 Region Rhine-Main" project in Hesse also represents a concept for a regional hydrogen ecosystem. Led by the FrankfurtRheinMain Regional Association, it brings together partners such as Mainova AG, Infraserv GmbH & Co. Höchst KG, and numerous municipalities.

A key aspect of the project is the integration of Mainova's waste-to-energy plant (MHKW) in Frankfurt-Nordweststadt. In a configuration unique in Germany, surplus electricity from waste incineration is to be used here to produce green hydrogen. An electrolyzer with a planned capacity of 5 MW is expected to produce up to 500 tons of hydrogen annually. The value chain includes not only production but also distribution and use. A regional hydrogen pipeline network is planned, which will, for example, integrate the Höchst Industrial Park as a major consumer. In the mobility sector, buses, trains, and trucks are to be powered by hydrogen.

A hydrogen network is also planned in the region: It is to reach a total length of about 300 km and connect the metropolitan region to the national hydrogen core network through several connections. The first sections are expected to go into operation from 2028, with the initial network to be newly constructed by 2032. Subsequently, the conversion of existing natural gas pipelines is planned. And not without reason: A rising hydrogen demand is predicted for the region: from about 5 TWh annually in 2030 to around 24 TWh by 2045. The expected investment costs up to 2040 amount to about 610 million euros, for which funding and financing programs from public and private sources are considered necessary.

© Tameer Gunnar Eden/Eifeler Presse Agentur/epae

One of the largest solar parks in North Rhine-Westphalia is located at Brainergy Park Jülich. The Düren district wants to use the electricity produced here to generate green hydrogen (Source: Tameer Gunnar Eden/Eifeler Presse Agentur/epae)

Western Germany: H2 Model Region Düren

The H2 Model Region Düren in western North Rhine-Westphalia was initiated by the Düren district and various local partners and aims to map the entire hydrogen value chain in the region.

Again, a key aspect is the production of green hydrogen through electrolysis from solar and wind power. The planned electrolyzer is to be built on the site of the Brainergy Park by the companies NEUMAN & ESSER and Messer Industriegase in Jülich. With an initial capacity of 5 MW, which is to be expanded to 20 MW later, the plant forms the heart of regional hydrogen production.

The Jülich Research Center plays a central role in the H2 model region. As one of the largest research centers in Europe, it brings extensive expertise in hydrogen technology. The center works on various aspects of hydrogen research, from basic research to application, thus underpinning the practical implementation of the project with scientific competence.

The companies involved include Rurenergie GmbH, a regional energy supplier that coordinates hydrogen production and distribution, and Dürener Kreisbahn, which plans to use hydrogen buses in public transport - including trains. RWE Power AG is also involved, contributing its experience in energy generation and distribution.

The use of the produced hydrogen is diverse: In the mobility sector, public transport buses and waste collection vehicles are to be converted to hydrogen propulsion. In addition, the integration of local industrial companies is planned to replace fossil fuels in industrial processes with hydrogen.

Conclusion

All five H2 clusters offer diverse opportunities for manufacturers of industrial valves and seals. Each project requires specific solutions, from high-pressure valves to specialized sealing systems. H2 clusters offer the chance to test products in various application areas. At the same time, they create demand for hydrogen-compatible products.

Collaboration with research and industry opens up opportunities for valve manufacturers to engage in joint development. For the industry, this means positioning in a promising market. The H2 clusters show that manufacturers of industrial valves and seals can play a key role in the emerging hydrogen infrastructure.

If you want to learn more about the topic, visit Valve World Expo 2024 in Düsseldorf. Hydrogen production is one of the main themes here.