EWE continues to advance the hydrogen economy: The company has commissioned industrial services provider Bilfinger with steelwork, piping, and component assembly for the 320-megawatt hydrogen production plant in Emden. The contract is one of the largest in the overall “Clean Hydrogen Coastline” project and, following the contracts for electrolysis, compressors, and construction work, is the final major contract package.
The plant is among the largest of its kind in Europe. It strengthens Lower Saxony as an industrial hub and lays the foundation for new value creation in climate-friendly energy. From late 2027, the plant is set to produce its first green hydrogen for delivery to industrial customers.
By awarding the contract to Bilfinger, an experienced system integrator for hydrogen plants, EWE is creating key prerequisites for the plant’s further implementation and for the next step in the market ramp-up: the conclusion of long-term supply contracts for green hydrogen.
Foundation for marketable hydrogen contracts
With the award of the contract, the critical cost and planning parameters for the plant are now defined. This creates the necessary foundation to enter into concrete contract negotiations with industrial partners. EWE is in close communication with several companies regarding this. The goal is to establish reliable and economically viable supply relationships for green hydrogen.
Tobias Moldenhauer, Managing Director of EWE HYDROGEN GmbH, says: “By awarding the last major construction contracts, we have fulfilled a crucial prerequisite. We now have a solid foundation and can use it to offer competitive, long-term green hydrogen supply agreements. This is a key step from the project to the market.”
Implementation across the entire value chain
The hydrogen production plant in Emden is part of the IPCEI project “Clean Hydrogen Coastline.” Through this project, EWE is connecting key elements of the hydrogen value chain—from production through storage and transport to delivery.
This creates an integrated system in Lower Saxony that addresses industry’s demand for climate-neutral energy while generating new economic value in the region.
Political framework conditions remain crucial
Despite progress in implementation, the market ramp-up remains dependent on a reliable regulatory framework.
Tobias Moldenhauer: “Companies like EWE are already investing across the entire value chain. To ensure these investments can be sustained, we need stable market mechanisms, regulatory certainty, and pragmatic guidelines, particularly at the European level.”
The announced revisions to the additionality criteria, as well as the recent decision on the further development of the GHG quota, are important signals in this regard. “At the same time, there remains a need for action to accelerate the ramp-up of clean technologies and ensure international competitiveness. To this end, investments in projects like ours in Emden must remain economically viable in the future,” Tobias Moldenhauer continued.
Bilfinger brings extensive experience to the project
Bilfinger is responsible for the detailed engineering, delivery, installation, and commissioning of key plant components surrounding the electrolysis process—known as balance-of-plant components. These include, among other things, several kilometers of piping systems connecting the various plant sections, as well as steel construction work and the integration of auxiliary technical facilities.
Thomas Schulz, Bilfinger Group CEO, says: “We are pleased to support EWE in the implementation of one of the largest hydrogen initiatives in Europe. With our extensive experience across the entire value chain—from production through storage to end use—we are making a tangible contribution to tomorrow’s sustainable energy infrastructure. Partnerships like this are crucial for advancing the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Germany.”
With this contract award, all major trades for the facility have been commissioned. The focus now shifts to implementation.
Funding in the European Context
The “Clean Hydrogen Coastline” project is funded under the European IPCEI program (Important Project of Common European Interest) and supported by the European Union as well as the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony.
