(Hamburg, Germany) – The laying of the foundation stone marks the start of construction on the "Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub" (HGHH) on the site of the former Moorburg power plant – "an important project for the energy transition," says Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor and Head of Government of the city-state. The Hanseatic city offers "ideal conditions for ramping up the hydrogen economy, with its wind energy in the north, its connection to the supra-regional hydrogen network, and its innovative industrial companies." The electrolyzer in Moorburg is part of the solution "to make decarbonization a reality in Hamburg," says Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economic Affairs, Labour and Innovation.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the 100-megawatt electrolyzer (from left): Christoph Cosler (HGHH Managing Director), Kirsten Fust (HEnW Managing Director), Katharina Fegebank (Senator for the Environment), Peter Tschentscher (First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg), Holger Matthiesen (HGHH Managing Director), Melanie Leonhard (Senator for Economic Affairs), Alexandra Bernstorff (Managing Partner, Luxcara). © HGHH
Last summer , the project received federal and state funding as an "Important Project of Common European Interest" (IPCEI Hydrogen). This funding includes the construction of a trailer station for the green energy carrier. At the same time, the "HH-WIN" (Hamburg Hydrogen Industry Network) project also received funding: This 40-kilometer network of new hydrogen pipelines will also incorporate hydrogen generated at the Hamburg Hydrogen Plant (HGHH). Since then, the key construction contracts have been signed.
Last November, the Hagedorn company demolished the chimneys of the flue gas desulfurization plant in Moorburg. © Hagedorn Group
Since October 2023, dismantling work has been underway at the former Moorburg power plant. In November 2024, the 2.300-ton, 130-meter-high chimneys of the flue gas desulfurization plant were demolished by controlled explosion. Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH (HEnW) acquired the power plant in March 2023; its previous operator was the Swedish state-owned energy company Vattenfall. Initial construction preparations began in the summer of this year. These preparations started with excavating the subsoil of the 16.000-square-meter site. The foundation slab has now been poured, and construction of the building above ground has commenced. The building for the electrolyzer and compressors is scheduled for completion by the middle of next year. Following this, the electrolyzer, based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology, will be delivered and installed. The contract for this was awarded to Siemens Energy in September 2024.
Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027. The plant is expected to produce approximately 10.000 tons of green hydrogen annually. This hydrogen will later be made available to customers via Hamburg's hydrogen industry network and the trailer station. Hamburg Green Hydrogen GmbH & Co. KG is a joint venture between the asset manager and investor Luxcara (74,9 percent) and the municipal energy supplier Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH (25,1 percent).
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Rendering of the future "Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub," whose 100-megawatt electrolyzer is scheduled to begin commercial operation for the production of green hydrogen in 2027. © HGHH
