Minister Robert Habeck presents IPCEI funding notification to EBL consortium partner VNG Gasspeicher
On 27 August 2024, the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, presented VNG Gasspeicher GmbH (VGS) with a positive IPCEI funding decision for the innovative GO! hydrogen storage project in Bad Lauchstädt. The project is part of the Hy2Infra wave of IPCEI Hydrogen (“Important Projects of Common European Interest”), which was approved by the EU Commission on 15 February 2024. The funding commitment marks a significant milestone in the expansion of the hydrogen economy in Germany.
One aspect of the GO! Storage project comprises underground storage of hydrogen, which will be implemented in the second project phase of the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park. Specifically, the project will see the conversion of the cavern, the underground facility and other parts of the above-ground facility. This will enable the long-term storage of large quantities of green hydrogen produced in the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park, thus increasing the security of supply and flexibility of the hydrogen network.
Bernd Protze, Managing Director of VNG Gasspeicher GmbH, emphasised the significance of the funding decision: “The storage infrastructure in Central Germany plays a key role in German gas supplies. Today, natural gas is stored in our storage facilities; in the medium to long term, it is likely to be hydrogen. Even today it is clear that hydrogen storage systems will play an important role in the energy system of the future. That’s why we at VGS have been looking for some time at the technical aspects of converting our existing storage facilities to hydrogen. With this in mind, we are also a proud member of the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park consortium. The IPCEI funding commitment also creates the momentum we need to press ahead with plans to convert an existing cavern at our storage site in Bad Lauchstädt so that hydrogen can be stored there in future. With a capacity of 46 million Nm³ of hydrogen, it will be the first storage facility of this size in Germany. This is an important signal, especially because it is still early days here in Germany. It is important for us to convert our storage facilities in line with actual customer demand, even if this will not happen overnight.”
In connection with the presentation of the funding notice, Robert Habeck also visited the construction site of the electrolysis plant in the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park. He was impressed by the great progress made in the project, especially compared to his last visit two years ago when the site was still undeveloped.