Siemens to build one of Germany’s largest carbon-free hydrogen generation plants in Wunsiedel

Kickoff for one of the largest green hydrogen projects in Germany: The official groundbreaking ceremony in Wunsiedel marked the start of construction of a hydrogen generation plant with a capacity of 8.75 megawatts. The facility will produce up to 1,350 tons of hydrogen per year using only renewable energy, for example from solar or wind power. Using the generated hydrogen in transportation and industry allows for CO ₂ savings of up to 13,500 annually. 

Siemens Smart Infrastructure is the general contractor for the entire plant, with Siemens Financial Services (SFS) participating in the equity financing as well as holding a share of 45 percent in the operating company WUN H2 GmbH. The electrolyzer will be supplied by Siemens Energy. Attended by Dr. Markus Söder, Minister-President of Bavaria, Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, Thorsten Glauber, Bavarian State Minister of Environmental and Consumer Protection Affairs, Professor Dr. Ralf P. Thomas, Chief Financial Officer of Siemens, Dr. Philipp Matthes and Dr. Thilo Rießner, Managing Directors of WUN H2, Nicolas Lahovnik, Mayor of Wunsiedel, Marco Krasser, Managing Director of SWW Wunsiedel, and Andreas Schmuderer, Siemens Project Manager, the groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction of this lighthouse project. 

In his remarks, Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger said: “The WUN H2 project is an important contribution to implementing Bavaria’s hydrogen strategy. Green hydrogen ‘Made in Bavaria’ demonstrates domestic technological expertise and increases acceptance through local value creation.”  Minister of Environmental Affairs Thorsten Glauber added: “Hydrogen is a key technology on the road to a climate-neutral future. The energy transition will only succeed if there are many innovative approaches like the one pursued in Wunsiedel.”

According to a recent analysis by the OECD, global energy demand is estimated to increase by 80 percent by 2050. Meeting this demand while addressing the challenges of climate change will require massive investments in clean energy generation, power distribution, and digitalization. To this end, all energy-consuming sectors, including transportation and industry, must push ahead with their decarbonization efforts.

The plant will be constructed at Wunsiedel Energy Park and connected to the existing Siemens battery storage facility and adjacent industrial enterprises. These can use waste heat, or the oxygen split off during electrolysis. This connected infrastructure will serve as a model for the whole of Germany. 

“Converting our energy supply to new, climate-neutral energy sources is one of the main objectives of the energy transition. Hydrogen plays a key role in this,” said Siemens CFO Professor Dr. Ralf P. Thomas at the groundbreaking ceremony. “In this respect, Wunsiedel, with its existing distributed energy system and the use of digital technology, is a lighthouse project for a sustainable energy future.” For Siemens, digitalization and sustainability are increasingly becoming the focus of business activities. At an event for investors, Siemens had presented its new “Degree” framework for sustainable commitment to environmental, social and governance issues. 

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