The Hydrogen Lighthouse Project in Essen has received 7.5 million euros in funding. The project is being carried out by VoltH2with the active support of EE Energy Engineers and Encos - two companies of the Engineering & Natural Resources Business Unit of the Tüv Nord Group, consisting of the construction of an electrolyser on the Tüv Nord campus in Essen.
VoltH2 chose Essen as the site for the electrolyser because of the expertise of the Tüv Nord Group.
“Due to the importance of Essen as an industrial centre and the knowledge and expertise of the Tüv Nord Group, we saw great potential in this project right from the start” said André Jurres, Managing Director of VoltH2.
EE Energy Engineers and Encos are currently working on the official application that will serve as the basis for project approval. EE Energy Engineers has also been involved in the successful application of Metropole Rhein-Ruhr for the HyPerformer programme of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (abbreviated BMDV) and is supporting VoltH2 with the electrolysis sites in Gelsenkirchen and Wilhelmshaven. HyPerformer regions receive funding from the federal government for implementation-ready lighthouse projects focussing on hydrogen mobility.
The planned constructions of electrolysers in Essen and in the Climate Harbour Gelsenkirchen have now been selected as such lighthouse projects. In Essen, systems with a capacity of around 10 MW will be erected on an area of 5,000 square metres.
“Hydrogen is a central pillar of the energy transition. That is why we are very pleased to have the chance to turn the Ruhr region into a hydrogen metropolis together with VoltH2” added Maik Tiedemann, CEO of the Tüv Nord Group Engineering & Natural Resources Business Unit and DMT.
The grant notifications were presented as part of a trade mission to explore transnational collaboration in the field of green hydrogen. Representatives from more than 30 Dutch companies travelled to a B2B matchmaking event followed by a trade dinner organised by the Dutch Embassy. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands also took part in the presentation of the grant notifications.
The day following the presentation of grant notifications the group headed to the Tüv Nord campus in Essen. There, the Tüv Nord Group, together with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Dutch business association FME and VoltH2, held a workshop for Dutch and German companies from the hydrogen sector. In addition to presentations on the Rhine-Ruhr site and the service portfolio of the Tüv Nord Group as well as information on funding options, an interactive session provided the chance to discuss needs, challenges and opportunities for cooperation.
The Tüv Nord Group has set up its own hydrogen initiative to promote the hydrogen economy throughout Germany. HydroHub pools centralised services of companies of the Tüv Nord Group in the field of hydrogen and supports municipalities and companies with consulting, engineering and training for the development of the hydrogen market.
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