EWE awards Bilfinger contract for Huntorf hydrogen treatment
- One of seven salt caverns at Huntorf will be repurposed to provide approximately 16 million Nm³ of working gas capacity for hydrogen.
- Bilfinger will deliver engineering, installation and commissioning of the hydrogen treatment (drying) system.
- Bilfinger’s H2Dry technology will be deployed commercially for the first time at Huntorf.
- The facility will connect to Germany’s hydrogen core network, aims to start operations in 2028, and is part of EWE’s Clean Hydrogen Coastline with IPCEI funding approvals in summer 2024.
Contract and scope
EWE GASSPEICHER has awarded Bilfinger a contract to deliver the hydrogen treatment facility at the Huntorf storage site. Bilfinger will be responsible for engineering, installation and commissioning of the hydrogen drying system, marking the first commercial use of its H2Dry technology.
Capacity and system role
One of seven underground salt caverns at Huntorf will be converted to provide approximately 16 million standard cubic metres (Nm³) of working gas capacity for hydrogen. The storage facility will connect to Germany’s hydrogen core network, creating a flexible link between hydrogen production, transport and utilization and helping balance supply fluctuations.
Timeline and funding
The hydrogen treatment plant is a key element of the Huntorf storage infrastructure and is scheduled for connection to the hydrogen core network with operations planned to start in 2028. The project is part of EWE’s Clean Hydrogen Coastline and received funding approvals under the European IPCEI program from the German federal government and the State of Lower Saxony in summer 2024.
Experience base
EWE applies research experience from a 500-cubic-metre test cavern in Rüdersdorf and leverages a portfolio of 37 salt caverns. Bilfinger has supported EWE in planning and implementing hydrogen production and storage plants at multiple locations.
Source: Bilfinger