Germany – RWE is moving closer to establishing a groundbreaking green hydrogen project in Bedburg, Germany, thanks to a substantial funding commitment of €4.7 million from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).
Silke Krebs, State Secretary at the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action, and Energy of NRW, conveyed the funding commitment to Sopna Sury, COO Hydrogen at RWE. Sury estimates the total investment volume for this pioneering project at approximately €25 million.
Projects like H2 Bedburg can play a vital role in kick-starting the region’s energy transformation into Europe’s first climate-neutral industrial hub, ensuring energy supply security and sustainable development while safeguarding jobs and economic stability.
Mühlenerft Industrial Park
The proposed electrolyser plant will be constructed in the Mühlenerft Industrial Park, a site approved for industrial development by Bedburg’s authorities.
However, one of the key prerequisites for this hydrogen project’s success is the establishment of economically viable purchase agreements with customers in the surrounding region. Logistics firms close to the Mühlenerft Industrial Park and local public transport vehicles targeted for conversion to green hydrogen are the primary potential consumers.
Filling station
Notably, during the initial phase, Bedburg is not expected to be connected to the core hydrogen network planned by the German government. Consequently, the planned green hydrogen distribution will rely on tankers. To address this, RWE is preparing to construct a tanker filling station and a hydrogen fuel station in Bedburg, which will require participation in German government tenders for hydrogen fuel station expansion.
If all goes as planned, including the construction of the filling station and swift approvals, the entire project is poised to begin supplying green hydrogen to the region by 2026.