Green Hydrogen from EWE – an Energy Carrier for the Future
How Green Hydrogen Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
EWE aims to develop a comprehensive hydrogen economy in north-western Germany and is active across the entire value chain, from the production, storage and transport of green hydrogen to its use.
“Green hydrogen” refers to hydrogen produced through water electrolysis using electricity from renewable sources that meets the applicable EU requirements for renewable hydrogen. These include criteria governing the origin and sourcing of the electricity used, as well as greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
Green hydrogen can play an important role, particularly in applications that are difficult to electrify directly. It is produced through water electrolysis using electricity from renewable sources such as wind or solar power. The energy converted into hydrogen can then be stored and transported to where it is needed, for example in industry, the energy sector or transport. In applications where direct electrification is challenging, green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels and thereby help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Together with its subsidiaries, the EWE Group brings together expertise across the hydrogen value chain.
Establishing a Hydrogen Economy in North-western Germany
EWE is committed to establishing a fully comprehensive hydrogen economy. Green hydrogen is already being produced, transported and utilised in north-west Germany. The region between the rivers Ems, Weser and Elbe offers favourable conditions for establishing a major hub within a strong European hydrogen economy:
In North-western Germany large amounts of renewable energy are generated, particularly from onshore and offshore wind – providing a basis for green hydrogen production.
EWE has decades of experience in renewable energy generation, energy storage, transport and trading, and the use of gaseous fuels such as biogas and natural gas.
Following technical assessment and any necessary conversion, some existing infrastructure could be used to transport and store hydrogen in the future. This includes underground cavern storage facilities and parts of the existing gas network.
EWE operates one of the largest gas distribution networks in Germany.
The region’s central location in Europe and connections to several ports offer opportunities to source and import hydrogen via different transport routes in the future.
EWE can draw on local partners and an extensive network of partners beyond the region for a wide range of hydrogen projects.
The Hydrogen Program ‘Clean Hydrogen Coastline’
EWE’s Clean Hydrogen Coastline programme brings together all its hydrogen activities – from production, transport and storage to the use of green hydrogen in industry, transport and the energy sector. Some of these projects have been designated by the EU as part of an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) – a major cross-border initiative of shared European interest.
Green Hydrogen Production
Energy from renewable electricity can be stored in the form of hydrogen. This involves using electricity from renewable sources, such as wind or solar power, to split water into oxygen and hydrogen through electrolysis. The resulting hydrogen can be stored and transported to customers.
Developing hydrogen production facilities is a long-term undertaking. EWE is gradually expanding its electrolysis capacity.
EWE has been operating a test electrolyser connected to an on-site hydrogen refuelling station in Huntorf, Lower Saxony, since 2019. A 2-megawatt hydrogen production facility in Cuxhaven is also already in operation.
As part of the large-scale Clean Hydrogen Coastline initiative, one of Europe’s largest facilities of its kind is being built in Emden, East Frisia. With an electrolysis capacity of 320 megawatts, it is scheduled to start producing green hydrogen primarily for industrial customers from late 2028.
Storage allows hydrogen to be supplied when it is needed. Large-scale hydrogen storage can contribute to security of supply and energy system flexibility. Underground salt caverns can store large quantities of green hydrogen for extended periods. EWE has decades of experience in this field.
EWE’s subsidiary EWE GASSPEICHER GmbH operates a total of 37 caverns in north-western Germany and Brandenburg, with a storage capacity of around two billion cubic metres. These account for 15 per cent of Germany’s cavern storage facilities. Which caverns can be used for hydrogen storage in the future will depend on their technical suitability and the conversion work required.
As part of the HyCAVmobil research project, EWE and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) successfully tested whether and how hydrogen can be stored in salt caverns, using a small test cavern at EWE’s gas storage site in Rüdersdorf, Brandenburg.
The experience gained will inform a much larger project over the coming years: as part of the Clean Hydrogen Coastline IPCEI, EWE is converting a large-scale cavern storage facility in Huntorf, Lower Saxony, previously used for natural gas, to store hydrogen. Hydrogen storage at the site is scheduled to begin in 2028.
Hydrogen networks connecting production and storage facilities with consumers are being developed partly through new pipelines alongside the natural gas network and partly by repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure. The hydrogen core network – comparable to a motorway network – will connect major hydrogen hubs. The distribution network, equivalent to regional roads, will then deliver hydrogen to predominantly industrial consumers.Hydrogen transport networks connect production and storage facilities with consumers. These networks are being developed partly in parallel with the natural gas grid and partly by repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure. The hydrogen core network, comparable to a motorway, will link key hydrogen locations, while the distribution network, similar to local roads, will deliver green hydrogen primarily to industrial consumers.
EWE’s subsidiary GTG Nord plans to work with other operators to develop a hydrogen core network. EWE NETZ already operates one of Germany’s largest gas distribution networks. Whether, and to what extent, individual sections can transport hydrogen in the future will depend on their technical suitability, the conversion work required and the regulatory framework.
Through the “H2 Pipeline Infrastructure North-West” project, part of Clean Hydrogen Coastline, EWE is working to develop the region’s gas infrastructure for future hydrogen transport. The construction and conversion of several pipeline sections is intended to connect the region to the future European hydrogen transmission network.
The approximately 70-kilometre “Zukunftsleitung” pipeline in north-western Germany has been in operation since early 2024 and was designed from the outset to be hydrogen-ready. It could become a key part of Germany’s hydrogen core network as early as late 2028. A connection to Dutch hydrogen networks would be the next step.
In some energy-intensive applications, such as steel, glass or ammonia production, direct electrification is technically limited or requires substantial effort. Using green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in these applications and reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with fossil-based processes. Green hydrogen can also replace fossil fuels in heavy-duty transport, including trains, trucks and buses.
EWE intends to supply green hydrogen primarily to industrial companies, including those in the steel and chemical industries. EWE has already signed long-term agreements to supply green hydrogen from Emden to Salzgitter Flachstahl and tesa, an international manufacturer of innovative adhesive tapes.
Some of the green hydrogen produced using renewable energy is also intended to reduce fossil fuel use in heavy-duty transport and ensure a renewable electricity supply through future hydrogen-fired power plants.
The transformation of industry will only succeed if hydrogen is not just a political ambition but also economically viable. EWE is investing in the hydrogen economy with full conviction, but now we need determined cooperation between politics and business. Germany and Europe must deliver: on electricity prices, on funding, on infrastructure. Only then will the trust needed for billion-euro investments emerge. In doing so, we also strengthen the resilience and independence of our energy supply. With our projects, we aim to eventually feed green hydrogen into the national hydrogen core network. Our planning is focused on enabling flexible and broad-based use of hydrogen.”
Stefan Dohler, CEO EWE AG
The Clean Hydrogen Coastline Large-Scale Initiative
EWE’s Clean Hydrogen Coastline programme brings together its resources and expertise across the entire hydrogen value chain.
The transformation of industry will only succeed if hydrogen is not just a political ambition but also economically viable. EWE is investing in the hydrogen economy with full conviction, but now we need determined cooperation between politics and business. Germany and Europe must deliver: on electricity prices, on funding, on infrastructure. Only then will the trust needed for billion-euro investments emerge. In doing so, we also strengthen the resilience and independence of our energy supply. With our projects, we aim to eventually feed green hydrogen into the national hydrogen core network. Our planning is focused on enabling flexible and broad-based use of hydrogen.”Stefan Dohler, CEO EWE AG
