News from the construction site – The Februray update

In February, numerous technical tasks are scheduled at the Energiepark Bad Lauchstädt in preparation for the next steps in the commissioning process. Several areas of the facility are now in the final stages of outfitting or are about to undergo their first functional tests.

Hydrogen pipeline remains stably pressurized

The project’s hydrogen pipeline continues to be continuously filled with hydrogen and maintained at a defined pressure level. This measure protects the pipeline and already provides an opportunity to examine its behavior more closely during hydrogen storage. The most recent samples show no concerning changes in the gas composition. This confirms that the pipeline is in a stable condition.

Gas processing nearing technical start-up

The next steps are also drawing nearer in the hydrogen gas processing plant. Now that all remaining control cabinets have been delivered, the cabling of the control and measurement systems is currently underway.

As soon as this work is completed, the technical commissioning of the plant will begin. In this phase, all components will first be tested without hydrogen—a so-called cold commissioning. During this process, the project partners will check, among other things, the control systems, safety systems, and process flows before the plant is later operated with hydrogen.

Work in the storage area completed

Construction work within the scope of responsibility of VNG Gasspeicher GmbH (VGS) has now been completed. Site cleanup is currently underway in collaboration with project partner DBI – Gastechnologisches Institut Freiberg. This includes, among other things, final road construction as well as backfilling and restoring the surfaces around the plant areas.

Technical connection to the refinery established

The physical grid connection point to the TotalEnergies refinery in Leuna was established back in January. This means the technical connection between hydrogen production at the energy park and the future industrial customer has been established.

The only remaining task is the installation of the measurement technology in the so-called EMSR room of the electrolysis plant. In the future, central measurement, control, and regulation systems will be operated there, enabling, among other things, the precise measurement of hydrogen volumes. 

Additional plant components fully installed

Significant milestones were reached in February regarding other key plant components:

• The reciprocating compressors, which bring the produced hydrogen up to the required pressure, have been delivered. This means that all essential technical components of the electrolysis plant are now on site.
• The air coolers have already been commissioned. In combination with the associated cooling water circuit, they will later ensure that process heat can be reliably dissipated.
• The water treatment system, which provides the high-purity water required for electrolysis, has also been running for some time and only needs to undergo a 600-hour test before final completion.

February thus demonstrates that many plant areas are now in the final phase of technical preparation. Step by step, systems are being tested, connected, and prepared for the upcoming commissioning steps.