German utility Stawag bets on green hydrogen to decarbonise public transport

German regional electric utility Stawag Energie GmbH is planning to build a 2-MW electrolyser to produce green hydrogen from wind power that will be used by local transport company ASEAG as a fuel for public transport in the city of Aachen, western Germany.

The electrolyser will be located near the 15.4-MW Aachen Nord wind park and will produce nearly 200 tonnes of green hydrogen annually which will be filled in mobile storage facilities and then transported to a hydrogen filling station to be built on a site owned by ASEAG, Stawag said on Friday.

The construction of the infrastructure necessary for the project is expected to be completed within two years with the first deliveries of green hydrogen scheduled for the end of 2023.

The project will be backed by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure which will provide EUR 3.5 million (USD 3.95m), covering about 45% of the investment costs. ASEAG has also applied for financial support for the construction of the hydrogen filling station and buses.

ASEAG will take part in the pilot project as buses with fuel cells powered by locally produced green hydrogen will help cut carbon emissions, said ASEAG's executive Michael Carmincke.

The Aachen Nord wind farm has been in operation since the end of 2017, generating about 42 million kWh of green electricity.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.129)

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