Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) awards funding: Hamburg Hydrogen Industrial Network and large-scale electrolyzer of the HGHH project receive IPCEI-funding

Berlin/Hamburg – Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck presented the funding decisions in Berlin today for two significant hydrogen projects in Hamburg: Hamburger Energiewerke (HEnW) and its project partner Luxcara will receive funding for the Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub (HGHH) project. Together, they are building a 100 MW electrolyzer for green hydrogen on the site of the former Moorburg coal-fired power plant. Gasnetz Hamburg, the municipal network operator, is receiving funding for the construction of the first 40 kilometers of the HH-WIN hydrogen distribution network. The Federal Government and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg are jointly providing over 250million euros of funding for both projects.

These two significant infrastructure projects are central to Hamburg's future hydrogen economy. The EU Commission had already approved funding for theIPCEI projects in mid-February, paving the way for national funding. GasnetzHamburg will begin constructing the central infrastructure for Hamburg's hydrogen industry this summer, with the network’s completion expected by 2027 according to the IPCEI funding. The HGHH consortium will also take the next steps by ordering large components for the 100 MW electrolyzer this year, allowing construction to begin as early as 2025.

Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics and Innovation: "The availability of hydrogen is important for advancing the decarbonization of industry by providing a reliable substitute for energy sources from fossil fuels. The Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub project is another important component in developing Hamburg's hydrogen industry, with the Hamburg Hydrogen Industry Network HH-WIN serving as the central infrastructure. It connects the entire hydrogen value chain that we are building in Hamburg, enabling our port to produce, import, transport and use H₂ in industry and logistics in the future. Hamburg is positioning itself as a European hub for the hydrogen economy. We are thus opening a significant gateway to the future of our economy location and creating development prospects."

Jens Kerstan, Senator for Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture: "The starting signal for the expansion of Hamburg as a hydrogen location has been given. With the Federal Government’s the funding, the HGHH consortium is now starting to realize the initial 100 MW large-scale electrolyzer at the site of the former Moorburg power plant, and construction of the first 40 kilometers of hydrogen network begins. Once again, our municipal companies are driving the energy transition. In the future, we will be able to produce green hydrogen with the help of the electrolyzer, laying the foundation for rapid decarbonization of the industry. The Hamburg Hydrogen Industrial Network will ensure a climate-neutral energy supply for large industrial companies in the port. Since 2020, my Environmental Agency and our municipal company Gasnetz Hamburg have worked together to ensure that we can realize this huge transformative project. As we have an integrated approach across all stages of the value chain, these important projects will make Hamburg a key hydrogen center in Germany and Europe.”

Michael Dammann, Managing Director of Gasnetz Hamburg: "With the construction and, from 2027, the operation of HH-WIN, our company is a driver of innovation and the transformation of gaseous energy sources. We are delighted to now be able to tackle this key project for Gasnetz Hamburg in close collaboration with politic and economic stakeholders. As we have to get an operational hydrogen distribution network up and running in just two years, we have advanced the planning in recent years to the point that we are already in the approval and tendering process now. I therefore ask politicians and authorities to support these processes as well."

Christian Heine, spokesperson for the Management Board of Hamburger Energiewerke: "The energy transition can only succeed if politicians and companies collaborate on its implementation. Our HGHH project exemplifies this partnership: our electrolyzer and planned scaling will help decarbonizing the port and surrounding industries. With political funding commitments, we now have the planning security needed to implement a project of this magnitude."

Holger Matthiesen, Project Director at Luxcara: "We believe in the urgent need for an energy transition and are convinced that a holistic approach is required to achieve it. The HGHH project will significantly contribute to the ramp-up of the domestic hydrogen economy. We are delighted that the Federal Government and BMWK have also acknowledged this potential with their funding decision, and support our mission. Together with Hamburger Energiewerke, we will continue to rapidly implement the project."

HH-WIN construction start planned for summer

In summer 2024, Gasnetz Hamburg will begin constructing major pipeline sections between Waltershof and Altenwerder, west of the A7 highway. Subsequent sections will connect the large-scale electrolyzer at the former Moorburg power plant site as well as industrial areas in Harburg and in the direction of Altenwerder and Finkenwerder. From the south, HH-WIN will connect to the hydrogen pipeline system, which reaches the border of Hamburg near Leversen in Lower Saxony. This connection enables both a supply of hydrogen to Hamburg and the feeding of ship imports and local production back into the European Hydrogen Backbone”.

Nextsteps for the Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub

The former Moorburg coal-fired power plant is currently being dismantled to accommodate the 100 MW electrolyzer. Parts of the existing infrastructure and facilities, such as water treatment facilities, quayside infrastructure, and workshop and storage buildings, will be retained. The existing connection to the extra-highvoltage grid, through which electricity from renewable energy sources will be supplied to the electrolyzer in the future, will be converted and relocated. The necessary planning is underway, and the electrolyzer is expected to begin commercial operation in 2027.

‍About Hamburger Energiewerke

Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH is a 100 percent municipal energy supplier. The company supplies more than 160,000 customers in Hamburg with green electricity and gas. Hamburger Energiewerke also operates one of the largest district heating networks in Germany, supplying over 525,000 residential units with city heat for heating and hot water. Over 1,000 employees at the municipal energy supplier are committed to the success of the energy and heating transition. By 2030 at the latest, heat generation from hard coal will be completely replaced and the heat supply will be climate-neutral by 2045. At the same time, the portfolio of renewable energy plants will be expanded. Hamburger Energiewerke is making the largest single contribution to achieving Hamburg's climate targets.

About Gasnetz Hamburg

Gasnetz Hamburg GmbH is 100% city-owned and operates the natural gas network in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, with approximately 7,900 kilometers of network, around 160,000 house connections, and almost 230,000 customers. The network includes high, medium, and low-pressure lines, house connection lines, and approximately 600 gas pressure regulating stations. The network is controlled and monitored via a central control center.

About Luxcara

Luxcara is an independent asset manager providing institutional investors with long-term equity and debt investment opportunities in the sustainable, clean energy infrastructure market. Driven by an experienced team, Luxcara focuses on developing lifelong projects and long-term relationships with everyone involved. We are set apart through our extensive industry network, confidently embracing each project individually, and delivering tangible results as well as meaningful returns that empower positive change. We have a strong history of influencing the investment industry, pioneering clean energy infrastructure investments across Europe with a total capacity of more than 6 GW and an investment volume of about EUR 6 billion.

We are sincerely dedicated to accelerating the energy transition by offering specialist’s know-how of technology, construction, operations, strategy, power markets and finances. We are not simply investing; we are contributing to a more sustainable future.

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Media contact:

Behörde für Wirtschaft und Innovation (BWI): 
Press department, pressestelle@bwi.hamburg.de, Telefon: +49 40 42841 2239

Behörde für Umwelt, Klima, Energie und Agrarwirtschaft (BUKEA): 
Press department, pressestelle@bukea.hamburg.de, Telefon: +49 40 42840 8006

Luxcara: 
Lars Haugwitz, GFD - Gesellschaft für Finanzkommunikation mbH 
haugwitz@gfd-finanzkommunikation.de, Telefon +49 69 97 12 47 34

Hamburger Energiewerke: 
Corporate Communications, Friederike Grönemeyer, Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH,  
Friederike.groenemeyer@hamburger-energiewerke.de, Telefon +49 40 6396 2732

Gasnetz Hamburg: 
Bernd Eilitz, Gasnetz Hamburg GmbH,  
presse@gasnetz-hamburg.de, Telefon: +49 40 2366 3507

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