PROJECTS
Source: Tree Energy Solution
Wilhelmshaven Green Energy Hub
The import of green hydrogen via hydrogen terminals is a crucial prerequisite for the development of a hydrogen economy in Germany. The coast of Lower Saxony with its deep water port in Wilhelmshaven offers ideal conditions for this. Tree Energy Solution (TES) has therefore decided to build a hydrogen terminal in Wilhelmshaven that will enable the import of green hydrogen on a large scale. The planned terminal comprises six berths and a total of ten tanks with a storage capacity of 2,000,000 cubic meters. According to plans, the terminal will be able to import up to 250 TWh of green gases per year in the future and produce more than 5 million metric tons of hydrogen from them - equivalent to one tenth of Germany's total annual primary energy demand.
News (11/28/2022): TES and EWE plan to build 500 MW electrolyzer
As TES and EWE announced at the end of November, a 500 MW electrolyzer is to be built as part of the project. The electrolyzer is scheduled to go into operation from 2028. The capacity of the electrolyzer is to be 500 megawatts, which is to be expanded to a total capacity of 1 gigawatt with another planned plant.
To meet its hydrogen needs, Germany will have to import green hydrogen from various countries in the future. This requires the appropriate infrastructure, which enables the landing, storage and transport into the hydrogen pipeline network. This is precisely what is envisaged in the Wilhelmshaven Green Energy Hub project, which is being implemented by Tree Energy Solution (TES). To this end, six ship berths are to be built in Wilhelmshaven that are "Suezmax-compatible" - so that large ships can also land in Wilhelmshaven ("Suezmax" describes a ship size that is permissible for passage through the Suez Canal when loaded).
TES also wants to produce the green hydrogen itself - in countries with a very high supply of hydro, wind or solar power. Renewables are used for electrolysis in the producing countries to initially produce green hydrogen. After electrolysis, carbon dioxide is added to the hydrogen to produce green CH4 (methane), which can then be transported by shipping fleet to Wilhelmshaven. Here, the CH4 is converted back to hydrogen, and the resultingCO2 is captured and returned to the producing countries in a recirculation system for further use.
Source: Tree Energy Solution
Wilhelmshaven Green Energy Hub in the model
From 2026, the terminal is scheduled to begin operations and thus the first import of green molecules. In this initial phase, 25 TWh of green methane per year are expected to be imported - from this, more than half a million tons of hydrogen can be produced. During the ramp-up phase starting in 2030, output will be successively increased so that eventually up to 250 TWh per year - and thus more than 5 million tons of hydrogen - can be imported or produced.
The project intends to take advantage of the good site conditions in Wilhelmshaven and make use of the storage and transport infrastructure currently being built in Lower Saxony. Thus, a link to the underground salt cavern storage facilities in Etzel is to be established and the pipelines built and rededicated as part of the H2ercules project are to be used to enable transport to industrial consumers in the west and south of Germany. With high import volumes of up to 250 TWh, the project is expected to contribute to security of supply in Germany and the EU.
About TES
Tree Energy Solutions (TES) is a green hydrogen company that provides CO2-neutral energy to industry and consumers - in the form of green hydrogen, green gas and green electricity. To build a network with global reach, TES is currently developing sites in Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United States to import and distribute energy.