Germany – GET H2 TransHyDE joint project, based in Lingen, Germany, has achieved a significant milestone. For the first time, hydrogen has been produced on the site of the RWE gas-fired power plant in Emsland (KEM) using a high-temperature solid oxide electrolyser (SOEC) developed by Sunfire.
At the heart of this achievement is a high-temperature SOEC electrolyser with a 250-kilowatt (kW) output. Housed within an overseas container, this device has the capability to produce approximately 170 kilograms of hydrogen per day at full capacity. To put this into perspective, the daily hydrogen production theoretically has the energy potential to power a fuel cell-equipped car for a staggering 17,000 kilometers.
The produced hydrogen will be channeled into a 130-meter-long test line, or loop, as part of the GET H2 TransHyDE research initiative. Here, companies and research institutes will collaborate to develop technologies optimized for the efficient utilization of hydrogen.
Road ahead
In the upcoming weeks, a piston compressor will be brought into operation alongside the 250-kW electrolyser. This critical addition will enable the compression of hydrogen to the high-pressure level of 58 bar, necessary for pipeline transportation. Early tests on the TransHyDE test pipeline are scheduled to start at the beginning of 2024.
Collaborative effort
The GET H2 TransHyDE project is a collaborative effort among several prominent companies and research institutions. These include Adlares, Evonik, Meter-Q Solutions, Nowega, OGE, Rosen, and RWE, alongside the DVGW Research Unit at the Engler-Bunte Institute of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Potsdam. Together, these nine partners are focused on researching and developing the infrastructure essential for green hydrogen in public spaces.
TransHyDE is one of the German hydrogen lead projects supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, aimed at advancing the implementation of the National Hydrogen Strategy. The Ministry’s financial backing for the project amounts to an impressive 11.63 million euros. This substantial investment underscores Germany’s commitment to becoming a global leader in hydrogen technologies and forging a sustainable, clean energy future.
