Uniper has unveiled a new storage facility for green hydrogen in Krummhörn, marking a significant step in enhancing both supply security and decarbonisation efforts. The HPC Krummhörn project aims to integrate these objectives effectively. The facility will commence trial operations with a gas tightness test scheduled for 24 September 2024, followed by the planned initial gas filling, setting the stage for its operational debut.

The Hydrogen Pilot Cavern (HPC) Krummhörn demonstration plant was officially inaugurated yesterday by Olaf Lies, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Transport, Construction, and Digitalization, alongside Michal Lewis, CEO of Uniper, Holger Kreetz, COO of Uniper, and Doug Waters, Managing Director of Uniper Energy Storage. The ceremony, attended by numerous political and administrative guests, included a plant tour providing an in-depth look at the project and Uniper’s strategy for advancing “Greener Gases.”

Michael Lewis, CEO of Uniper, emphasizes that energy storage is critical for maintaining a stable and efficient energy system, particularly as the proportion of renewable energy sources rises. Efficient storage is essential for managing seasonal demand fluctuations and ensuring energy availability during periods of high demand, which is vital for decarbonisation efforts. Hydrogen is poised to be a key component in this transition, offering both supply security and a reduction in carbon emissions. The HPC Krummhörn project exemplifies this strategic focus, but for such initiatives to progress beyond pilot phases, there must be a robust and reliable long-term regulatory framework supported by market-driven mechanisms and investment incentives.

The hydrogen storage initiatives at HPC Krummhörn in Lower Saxony and HyStorage in Bavaria are key elements of Uniper’s strategy, focusing on the development of commercial hydrogen storage solutions. These projects involve storing a blend of natural gas and hydrogen in pore storage facilities, advancing Uniper's goal to establish robust hydrogen infrastructure.

At the Krummhörn site, a pilot cavern with a geometric volume of approximately 3,000 cubic meters has been created through solution mining at an existing borehole. This facility, capable of storing nearly 500,000 norm cubic meters of green hydrogen, will be among the first of its type. With surface equipment for injection already installed, the gas tightness test scheduled for September 24, 2024, will initiate the trial phase. Following approval, the project will move into the next phase, which includes initial gas filling and the operational testing of the demonstration plant through various injection and withdrawal cycles over the coming year.

Uniper is committing a substantial investment in the low double-digit millions of euros to support this green hydrogen project. Additionally, the initiative benefits from €2.375 million in funding from the Lower Saxony Ministry for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Protection, as part of the hydrogen directive aimed at advancing hydrogen economy pilot and demonstration projects.

The Krummhörn site is strategically advantageous, enhancing synergy with the nearby Uniper "Green Wilhelmshaven" project. This location bolsters Lower Saxony's role as a pivotal energy hub in Central Europe. Its proximity to the North Sea and established connections to existing gas and electricity grids, as well as the future hydrogen core network, provide optimal conditions for the project's success.