The Energy Transformation Hub Northwest combines Uniper’s major projects geared towards supply security as well as hydrogen, which are underway in Wilhelmshaven and surroundings: For example, our Wilhelmshaven site is home to Germany's first terminal (Floating Storage Regasification Unit, FSRU) for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG). This terminal will expand our supply sources for gas and strengthen security of supply in Germany.
As part of the "Green Wilhelmshaven" project, the site will also contribute to evolving the hydrogen economy. In the future, green ammonia will be landed here, from which green hydrogen will then be produced. Additional green hydrogen is to be produced by means of an electrolysis plant with a capacity of one gigawatt - fed by offshore electricity produced on site.
Uniper is testing ways to transport and store this green hydrogen at its Krummhörn site, where work has already begun on converting an existing underground natural gas storage facility into a hydrogen storage facility. A similar project is being tested with partners at the Huntorf site. Uniper intends to impart the necessary know-how in hydrogen-related occupational fields via its training center at the Wilhelmshaven site. The curriculum will accordingly be expanded to include corresponding advanced training courses.
Importing, producing and transporting green or low-CO2 energy, creating infrastructure and supplying it to end customers, as well as further training programs for the jobs of tomorrow - this is how Uniper is launching the energy supply of the future at the Energy Transformation Hub Northwest, which combines sustainability and security of supply even more sustainably.
LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven
Greater independence and supply security for Germany. The first landing terminal for LNG in Germany, to be set up as a Floating Storage & Regasification Unit (FSRU), will be built in Wilhelmshaven at the Umschlagsanlage Voslapper Groden (UVG) transhipment complex pier. Uniper will build and operate the terminal with support of the Federal Government of Germany. Uniper's goal is independence from individual energy sources and a sustainable energy future. This way Uniper considerably contributes to diversifying the energy imports of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Green Wilhelmshaven
Today, the German port of Wilhelmshaven is an important centre for the import of coal and oil. Its potential for green energy carriers has yet to be realized. The Green Wilhelmshaven project will establish an energy hub for the large-scale import and production of green hydrogen. This is part of Uniper’s commitment operating a carbon-neutral power generation portfolio in Europe by 2035. With Green Wilhelmshaven, we will help ensure the security of supply of Hydrogen products in Germany and large parts of continental Europe. Furthermore, this large-scale project will also ensure value-adding in the region both my creating new jobs in the area and by driving the energy transition in Germany – and Europe – forward.
Chess - Using wind power to produce green hydrogen
Using wind power to produce green hydrogen: that's the concept behind project Chess, which has been initiated in Huntorf, Lower Saxony. Together with the energy company EWE Uniper wants to build a hydrogen production facility with an initial capacity of 30 MW. The conditions at the site are favorable: renewable energy in the form of wind power is abundant, as is the necessary infrastructure for storing the hydrogen in salt caverns and transporting it via gas pipelines. The long-term goal of the project is to grow from an initial electrolyzer capacity of 30 MW to potentially 300 MW to integrate the project into the future European hydrogen network. And talks are underway with local companies to use green hydrogen in production, for example to produce "green" steel. In addition, the cooperation between Uniper and EWE at the Huntorf site offers the possibility of using hydrogen in Uniper's highly efficient CAES compressed air storage power plant. This step could mitigate so-called dark periods, i.e. situations at night when electricity from renewable sources such as sun and wind is not immediately available.
Krummhörn- Hydrogen in natural gas storage
An important prerequisite for a functioning hydrogen economy is the provision of sufficient storage capacity. In Krummhörn, Lower Saxony, Uniper is planning to convert an existing underground natural gas storage facility into a hydrogen storage facility. To this end, a new cavern will be created using an existing well. Upon completion in 2024, up to 200,000 cubic meters of hydrogen can be stored there. Krummhörn is also particularly attractive because of its proximity to Wilhelmshaven, where Uniper is supporting the development of the hydrogen economy in the region as part of the "Green Wilhelmshaven" project.
Training center- Acquiring the know-how for the jobs of the future
One of the basic prerequisites for successfully shaping the energy transition is well-trained specialist personnel. At our training center at the Wilhelmshaven site, we promote the training and upskilling of specialists in hydrogen-related occupational fields. Together with partner companies, we also offer internships at universities or training courses, for example in the field of pneumatic control technology.