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Feature09 November 2021Siemens EnergyMunich

The global energy transition will be based on the hydrogen economy

We are at the beginning of a hydrogen economy. This market will grow rapidly over the next 30 years because the demand for green hydrogen is immense - some talk of up to 500 million tons.

Hydrogen will play an important role in meeting the EU's and Germany's targets for reducing CO ₂ and greenhouse gas emissions. The EU aims to achieve 40 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030. Germany's National Hydrogen Strategy aims to build five gigawatts of electrolysis capacity by 2030. Green hydrogen will be an important lever to develop sustainable solutions, especially in sectors such as industry and mobility that are difficult to decarbonize.

To meet fast-growing demand and reduce costs, it is critical to accelerate the production of sustainably produced hydrogen by industrial-scale PEM electrolysers. The goal is thus to realize electrolysers on a large scale and with high performance. Every four to five years, the output of electrolysers increases tenfold. Siemens Energy's latest and most powerful PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysis product line is optimized for applications up to the higher three-digit megawatt range, so that systems of this size can produce several tons of green hydrogen per hour.

Projects to accelerate the up-scaling of water electrolysis

The German Federal Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, visited Siemens Energy's electrolyzer production facility in Erlangen on October 27. She was welcomed by Stefano Innocenzi, Head of Sustainable Energy Solutions at Siemens Energy, where sustainable technologies for hydrogen, power-to-X applications, hybrid power plants and photovoltaics are being further developed.

Among other things, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the flagship project H2Giga. The aim of this project is to drive the series production of electrolyzers into the gigawatt range. Siemens Energy is taking on the role of consortium leader in the DERIEL (De-risking electrolyzer) sub-project. This project is about risk minimization in the development and scaling of a new PEM electrolyzer.

Another sub-project with Siemens Energy as consortium leader is SEGIWA (series production GigaWatt). The aim of the SEGIWA project is to support the ramp-up of highly automated series production of water electrolysers. We are working here on new production methods and materials, and in particular on digitization. The results of this project will support the ramp-up of our planned gigawatt production in Berlin Moabit.

The minister informed herself about the current status of the two research projects with those responsible at Siemens Energy.

Siemens Energy delivers latest electrolyzer generation to Wunsiedel

Three heavy-duty trucks bring the plant from Mülheim to Wunsiedel. It will produce up to 1,350 metric tons of green hydrogen annually from renewable electricity and water for industrial and mobility applications in the region. This corresponds to CO ₂ savings of up to 13,500 tons. The project will see the first commercial use of the latest and most powerful product line from the Siemens Energy electrolysis portfolio. Commissioning is scheduled for summer 2022.

Departure of the heavy transport with the electrolyzer in Mülheim. Prefabrication of the Silyzer 300, the company's most modern electrolyzer, takes place at the Siemens Energy plant in Mülheim.

The Silyzer is transported from Mülheim to Wunsiedel in three boxes of 22 tons each.

Delivery of the Silyzer 300 in Wunsiedel. It weighs 66 tons and measures 8.0 x 7.5 x 3.7 meters.

The electrolyzer is unloaded. The plant will produce up to 1,350 tons of green hydrogen annually from renewable electricity and water

The Silyzer 300 is set up in the Wunsiedel hall. Commissioning is scheduled for summer 2022.

Installation of an electrolysis module. A Silyzer 300 plant consists of 24 modules.

Electrolysis module on the crane. The electrolysis plant is manufactured at the Siemens Energy plants in Erlangen and Mülheim.

Electrolyzer production in Mülheim. Annual hydrogen production of up to 1,350 tons corresponds to CO2 savings of up to 13,500 tons.

Siemens Energy is preparing for a growing demand for green hydrogen - by means of digitalization and automation of all relevant production steps.

Unloading the Siemens Energy electrolyzer in Wunsiedel, Germany

Unpacking the electrolyzer at the construction site in Wunsiedel

Inauguration Power-to-kerosene plant in Werlte

E-Kerosene production plant in Werlte with the PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysis from Siemens Energy

Press pictures from the Werlte project

Infographic of Werlte plant to produce synthetic crude oil used for decarbonization of aviation. In the process, green hydrogen is produced from renewable energy by the electrolysis from Siemens Energy. With CO ₂ (extracted from the air and from a biogas plant), synthetic crude oil is created as the basis for e-kerosene.

Site view of the Werlte plant with the electrolysis from Siemens Energy as a core.

View of the Silyzer 200, a PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysis from Siemens Energy, which provides 160 tons of hydrogen per year in Werlte.

The control panel is used to read the current measured values of the Silyzer 200 and to control the production of green hydrogen.

Digital control of the electrolysis is an integral part of the system in Werlte.