Assurance in procurement - RWE initiates plans for a hydrogen-fueled power station in Werne.
Energy firm RWE is moving forward with its ambitions to develop hydrogen-fueled gas power plants. Following the Weisweiler project in Rhineland, a facility of a similar nature is now being considered for construction at the Gersteinwerk site in Werne. The proposed plant would have an output of roughly 800 megawatts and would predominantly use hydrogen.
Currently, RWE operates a number of natural gas facilities in the area. While the exact timeline is still to be determined, the new plant could potentially be running by 2030. Initially, it's expected to utilize at least 50 percent hydrogen, eventually switching completely over to the hydrogen-based fuel.
Preliminary work for the permit process has begun, but RWE hasn't officially made a decision to invest in the project yet. The company is waiting for clarification on the network connection, existing regulations, and the plant's overall profitability before making a final call. Cost estimates have not yet been disclosed.
The head of RWE's power plant division, Nikolaus Valerius, expressed enthusiasm for the green energy initiative, emphasizing that the company's goal is to contribute to a reliable energy supply while also meeting the legislative goal of ending coal usage by 2030. "We're eager to make a difference," he said. "But we need solid political decisions. The site's connection to a hydrogen network and a favorable economic landscape are crucial factors that will play a deciding role in our final decision."
RWE has enlisted the support of Ansaldo Energia (Italy) and Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain) for the planning process, the same duo tasked with Weisweiler's development. The ability to tap into a potential hydrogen transport pipeline could give the Gersteinwerk location a competitive edge, RWE suggests.
The federal government's power plant strategy is slated to include provisions for tendering hydrogen-fueled gas power plants, and RWE has indicated their willingness to participate in these auctions. As part of their plans, RWE intends to establish hydrogen power plants with a collective capacity of 3,000 megawatts across their German sites by 2030. In addition to Weisweiler and Werne, the company is also eyeing Voerde as a potential location for a hydrogen-fueled gas power plant, with a corresponding large-scale hydrogen production facility under consideration.
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