The Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park

The Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park innovation project is testing the intelligent, large-scale production of green hydrogen (H₂) from wind power for the first time in Central Germany. Together with our project partners, we want to trial the production, storage, transport and economic use of green H2 under real conditions and on an industrial scale. The Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park is therefore contributing to researching the future green H₂ technology and bringing it to market maturity – for a technologically strong and future-oriented energy and hydrogen economy in Central Germany and successful integration of energy sectors throughout the entire Federal Republic.

Location

Bad Lauchstädt
(Saxony-Anhalt)

Partners

Terrawatt
Uniper Hydrogen
DBI

Quantity

2.000-4.000t H₂per year
ca. 60-120 GWh

The regulatory sandbox for the energy transition

Elektrolyse Mitteldeutschland GmbH - a joint venture between VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH and Uniper Hydrogen - is responsible for the generation and distribution of green hydrogen.
To this end, renewable electricity is obtained from the nearby wind farm to produce green hydrogen at the large-scale electrolysis plant. The hydrogen produced is environmentally friendly, easy to store, compensates for fluctuations in solar and wind power and can be used in a variety of ways. In addition to the green generation and the process-related delivery handling towards the customer, we analyze and optimize the commercial and technical processes in order to thus be able to ensure the best possible utilization along the entire value chain.

The project is funded and supported by the BMWi (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) and is a flagship project for best practice in green hydrogen.

In September 2021, the collaborative project was awarded state funding as a regulatory sandbox for the energy transition. With the final investment decision, the consortium partners have given the decisive starting signal for the realization of the innovative hydrogen project in June 2023. With this step, the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park leaves the theoretical planning phase and enters the constructional implementation phase. Another milestone on the way to the hydrogen ramp-up was reached in November 2023 with the signing of the first hydrogen supply contract in Germany between Elektrolyse Mitteldeutschland GmbH and TotalEnergies Raffinerie Mitteldeutschland GmbH. The supply of the locally produced green hydrogen is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2025.

The power-to-gas project is supported by experts from the wind industry, gas infrastructure, vehicle transport and chemical industry. These include our project partners Terrawatt, Uniper, VNG Gasspeicher GmbH, ONTRAS and VNG AG.

The opportunity to implement a green H₂ value chain on an industrial scale from generation, transport and storage to delivery to the customer is a unique undertaking in the project region around Bad Lauchstädt, which has ideal infrastructural conditions. As the project team of VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH and joint venture partner of Elektrolyse Mitteldeutschland GmbH, we are an integral part of this “regulatory sandbox for the energy transition”. In the emerging hydrogen market ramp-up, we are assuming responsibility for supplying our customers with H₂ and at the same time laying the foundations for the green transformation within VNG Handel & Vertrieb.

Sebastian Pflüger, Senior Project Manager Hydrogen VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH and Managing Director Elektrolyse Mitteldeutschland GmbH

Which VNG Group companies are involved?

Did you know? Key facts & figures about the project:

> 8 wind turbines with a total rated output of 50 MW (hub height approx. 120-170m) supply the green electricity for electrolysis.

> The large-scale electrolysis plant with a capacity of up to 30 MW covers an area of approx. 80 x 130 metres.

> The H₂ pipeline is an existing natural gas pipeline that is being repurposed for 100% hydrogen transport.

> The H₂ storage volume of the cavern is 50 million Nm³. This corresponds to almost two times the annual green hydrogen production of the electrolyser.

Project website

Further information on the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park project can be found on the project website.

learn more

Press release

Further information on the start of construction of the Bad Lauchstädt energy park can be found in the press release.

learn more

Talk to us!

Got questions about green issues and projects at VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH? We look forward to hearing from you!

send an enquiry