EWE GASSPEICHER, a subsidiary of EWE, has embarked on a pioneering initiative to assess the future storage requirements for hydrogen through a market survey. This effort aims to align storage capacity with the growing demand for hydrogen in various sectors.
Hydrogen has emerged as a crucial element in Germany’s ambitious plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. To reach this goal, the development of a robust hydrogen infrastructure is essential. Storage plays a pivotal role in ensuring a stable and reliable hydrogen supply.
Peter Schmidt, Managing Director of EWE GASSPEICHER, highlighted the importance of understanding future storage needs: “In order to be able to develop storage capacities according to customer needs in terms of flexibility and security of supply, this survey helps us to estimate future hydrogen storage requirements.”
The survey, which commenced on September 18, 2023, and will conclude on October 23, 2023, invites companies with identified storage needs in the future hydrogen market to participate. These requirements may emerge from supplying industrial customers, supporting hydrogen power plants, or facilitating domestic hydrogen production and import.
EWE’s extensive experience in gas storage, coupled with favorable geological conditions in northwest Germany, positions the company as a key player in shaping the hydrogen ramp-up in Germany and Europe. Dr. Urban Keussen, EWE’s Chief Technology Officer, emphasized their commitment to this endeavor: “With this experience and the corresponding geological conditions in north-west Germany, EWE is predestined to build up this storage infrastructure and thus also play an active role in shaping the hydrogen ramp-up in Germany and Europe.”
One of EWE’s pioneering projects is the “Clean Hydrogen Coastline,” part of the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI). This initiative encompasses various hydrogen projects across the entire value chain, including production, transportation, usage, and storage.
Hydrogen’s unique characteristic of large-scale storage, particularly in underground salt caverns, is a crucial component of the hydrogen economy. EWE has already constructed an underground hydrogen storage facility in Rüdersdorf, Brandenburg, to demonstrate the safety and viability of large-volume hydrogen storage.
Extensive tests for this facility are scheduled to commence in the coming months, marking a significant step toward transferring this technology to larger caverns. The success of this endeavor will pave the way for storing hydrogen produced from renewable sources on a massive scale, ensuring its availability as needed.
EWE’s commitment to climate neutrality aligns with Germany’s overarching goal. The company aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2035, underscoring its dedication to accelerating the energy transition.
