Energy transition - CDU doubts timetable for hydrogen production plant
At the construction of the planned 100-Megawatt electrolysis plants for green hydrogen in Hamburg-Moorburg, the CDU city council fraction fears further delays. Originally, hydrogen production was supposed to have started by 2025. "Now the Senate is planning to supply first consumers with green hydrogen in the first half of 2027. That's much too vague and much too slow", criticized the economic policy spokesperson of the CDU fraction, Goetz Wiese.
Planned construction start in 2025
In mid-June, the Senate presented its plans for hydrogen production on the site of the decommissioned coal power plant Moorburg to the city council. According to this, demolition work on the power plant site is supposed to be completed this year. Construction of the electrolysis plants was planned to begin in 2025. First consumers were supposed to be supplied with green hydrogen in 2027. In response to a small inquiry from Wiese, the Senate now specified that it should start in the first half of 2027.
Lack of permit according to Störfall Ordinance
However, several hurdles still need to be overcome, as the Senate's answer reveals. Since more than five tons of hydrogen are to be stored on the site, the installation is subject to the Störfall Ordinance under the Federal Immissions Control Act. An application for a permit has not been filed yet. A commission is supposed to meet this month to deal with the application.
A traffic concept may have to be developed
A traffic concept may also have to be submitted for the permit. How long it would take to develop such a concept, the Senate could not say. In the concept, the planned Autobahn A26-Ost should also be taken into account, whose route is supposed to run directly next to the plant. "For the transformation of Hamburg's industry to CO2 neutrality, planning security is needed, supply security must exist, and the port operations must continue. So far, the red-green Senate has not delivered", said Wiese.
Modern coal power plant with multiple capacity taken offline
Until 2021, one of the most modern and efficient steam coal power plants in Germany was in operation in Moorburg. Its two blocks, each with a capacity of 827 Megawatts, could generate around 11 Terawatt-hours of electricity per year. This corresponds to almost the entire electricity demand of the Hanseatic city. The construction cost three billion Euros, the plant was only six and a half years after commissioning taken offline.
- The CDU city council fraction expresses concerns about potential delays in the construction of the 100-Megawatt electrolysis plants for green hydrogen in Hamburg-Moorburg, initially scheduled for 2025.
- The Senate's plans, presented in mid-June, revealed that demolition work on the Moorburg power plant site is to be completed this year, with construction of the electrolysis plants set to commence in 2025, originally intended to supply first consumers with green hydrogen in 2027.
- The Senate's plans for hydrogen production are subject to several hurdles, including the requirement for a permit under the Störfall Ordinance due to more than five tons of hydrogen storage on the site and the potential need to develop a traffic concept.
- The closure of one of the most modern and efficient steam coal power plants in Germany, operating in Moorburg until 2021, highlights the move towards greener energy sources, such as hydrogen, and the challenges in transitioning from traditional forms of energy like coal-fired power plants.
- Goetz Wiese, the economic policy spokesperson for the CDU fraction, criticizes the Senate's timeline for supplying green hydrogen to consumers, stating that it is too vague and slow, and calls for more planning certainty and supply security in the context of Hamburg's transition to CO2 neutrality.
