In August, too, a great deal has been happening at the Energiepark Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park site. Commissioning of the electrolysis plant is approaching with great strides – and there is also clear progress on the other components of the hydrogen value chain.
Metering station commissioned
Consortium partner VNG Gasspeicher reached an important milestone: the metering station for the calibrated recording of the hydrogen produced has been successfully commissioned. As the link between production and downstream value chain stages, the metering station now provides a crucial element for the commercial utilization of the Green Hydrogen produced.
Construction of gas treatment plant on schedule
At DBI – Gastechnologisches Institut gGmbH Freiberg, construction of the innovative hydrogen gas treatment plant is also proceeding according to plan. State-of-the-art processes for purifying and analyzing the hydrogen will be used here in the future. The research focus is on how to reliably ensure the high purity of the hydrogen produced in the electrolyzer even after transport and storage. In addition to proven standard processes, new, more efficient and cost-effective approaches are also being tested in order to develop optimal solutions for industrial use. Commissioning is scheduled to begin in October 2025.
Electrolysis plant – next steps ahead
The auxiliary systems required for electrolysis are largely in operation, with only individual systems such as cooling to follow shortly. Another highlight is scheduled for mid-September: delivery and installation of the electrolysis stacks begins – those central units in which Green Hydrogen will be produced in the future.
Value chain almost completely closed
Progress is also being made along the transport and customer side: the connection point of the ONTRAS transport pipelines to the TotalEnergies refinery customer pipelines has been completed. On the refinery side, the physical connection is currently being established, so that the link will soon be in place here too. This means that almost the entire value chain – from production through transport to the customer – is ready; the only missing piece of the puzzle is the electrolysis itself.
Safety in focus
In parallel, detailed analyses of the pipeline already charged with hydrogen are being carried out every two weeks. This ensures that transport and operation meet the highest safety standards.
With each milestone, the moment when Green Hydrogen is produced for the first time in Bad Lauchstädt draws closer. The Energiepark is thus growing step by step into a flagship project for the hydrogen economy in Germany – and making the energy transition a little more tangible.
