The European Commission has added three planned hydrogen storage projects by EWE – at the Huntorf (Wesermarsch), Jemgum (East Frisia) and Rüdersdorf sites near Berlin – to the European list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI). The formal decision was announced today at the PCI Days in Brussels. With this inclusion, the EU acknowledges the great energy economic importance of these storage sites for security of supply, grid stability and industrial transformation. For EWE, PCI status is a strategic signal and an important intermediate step on the way to an integrated European hydrogen infrastructure. However, this expressly does not involve an investment decision.
Clear advantages for planning, speed and implementation
Inclusion in the PCI list not only brings political visibility for EWE, but also practical advantages. PCI projects benefit from accelerated approval and planning procedures, closely coordinated European coordination and possible funding options through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. For the storage sites in Huntorf, Jemgum and Rüdersdorf, this means that the next project steps can be carried out more efficiently and with greater planning security. This is a plus point in the early project phase, where feasibility, speed and investment security are important.
Relevance for regions and industry
The storage sites are located in regions that are expected to play a central role in the hydrogen economy in the future. The caverns in Huntorf and Jemgum are already among the largest energy storage sites in Germany. Due to its proximity to Berlin, Rüdersdorf is an important building block for supplying growing urban-industrial clusters. With the conversion to large-scale hydrogen storage facilities, green hydrogen could be temporarily stored in line with demand in the future, load peaks could be smoothed out and the supply of industrial customers could be secured – regardless of how volatile generation and grid condition are. It is precisely this combination of system service and locational strength that has convinced the EU Commission.
"Storage systems are the backbone of a functioning hydrogen system"
EWE CEO Stefan Dohler sees the expected PCI status as an important European signal: "The PCI status shows that Europe's hydrogen ramp-up cannot succeed without storage. Storage systems secure industrial processes, stabilize grids and create the necessary flexibility in the energy system. But without reliable framework conditions, investments in hydrogen projects will continue to falter. Competitive electricity prices, practical rules for the production of green hydrogen (RFNBO) so that electrolysers are not unnecessarily expensive, and clear demand impulses must come now."
Technically ready – but investment decisions are pending
Peter Schmidt, Managing Director of EWE GASSPEICHER GmbH, also sees PCI status as a small step in the right direction: "We are systematically preparing our storage sites for hydrogen use. PCI status gives us tailwind to move permits and planning processes forward more efficiently. However, this does not involve an investment decision. This is because hydrogen storage projects need a clear funding and financing framework so that investments are incentivised and do not become the 'missing link' of the future hydrogen system."
All three locations are still at an early stage of the project. However, EWE is preparing the projects to such an extent that central, long-term planning steps can be initiated at an early stage, even if the current framework conditions do not yet allow investment decisions. At the same time, the PCI status confirms the strategic importance that storage has for the European infrastructure in the long term.
Framework conditions must enable the ramp-up
Despite the recognition from Brussels, EWE CEO Döhler urges urgent action. Clear political decisions are now needed for a real storage ramp-up. "For a successful storage ramp-up, we need three things: a reliable funding and financing framework that enables investments, the clear recognition of storage systems as a central source of flexibility, without double grid charges, and technical infrastructure standards that are pragmatic enough not to stifle the market ramp-up," says Dohler.
The appeal is clear: without storage, the hydrogen ramp-up threatens to come to a standstill. The EU Commission is sending a strong signal with the PCI nomination, but the decisive course will be set at the national level.
Building block in the overall system: Clean Hydrogen Coastline
The storage facilities are part of EWE's "Clean Hydrogen Coastline" programme, which networks generation, storage and transport in north-west Germany. These include a 320-megawatt hydrogen production plant that EWE is currently building in Emden (East Frisia). This also includes the first large-scale hydrogen cavern, which EWE is currently converting for hydrogen storage at the gas storage site in Huntorf. In addition, a pipeline infrastructure is being built as part of the German hydrogen core network for the transport of hydrogen, which will connect generation plants, storage facilities and consumers. This systemic approach, which plans generation, grids and storage synchronously, is also recommended by studies such as the current Fraunhofer white paper.
Data, facts and figures on the planned EWE hydrogen storage projects
- Locations: Huntorf (Wesermarsch), Jemgum (East Frisia), Rüdersdorf near Berlin
- Technology: Planning for the conversion of existing caverns for hydrogen storage
- Role: Security of supply for industry, grid stabilization, system flexibility
- Project status: early development phase, no investment decision
- Part of the EWE programme www.clean-hydrogen-coastline.de
- PCI advantages: accelerated procedures, EU coordination, funding options via CEF
- Significance: regionally relevant industrial impulses and contribution to the European hydrogen infrastructure
