E.ON has inaugurated a power-to-gas (P2G) unit in Falkenhagen in Eastern Germany. The unit uses wind power to run electrolysis equipment that transforms water into hydrogen, which is injected into the regional gas transmission system. The hydrogen becomes part of the natural gas mix and can be used in a variety of applications, including space heating, industrial processes, mobility, and power generation. The unit, which has a capacity of two megawatts, can produce 360 m3 of hydrogen per hour.
The P2G unit is built and operated by E.ON in partnership with Swissgas AG, which will procure some of the unit’s hydrogen output. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Dr Philipp Rösler (Germany’s Economics Minister), Dr Christian Ehler (member of the European Parliament), Henning Heidemanns (State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics and European Affairs of the Federal State of Brandenburg), and about 200 other guests from the realms of politics, industry, and science.
E.ON built the unit in Falkenhagen because of the location. The region has a high output of wind power, the necessary power and gas infrastructure is already at hand and E.ON has a control centre there. The unit uses proven technology. This makes the project well suited to serve as a platform for gathering technical and regulatory experience in the construction and operation of P2G storage units. This experience will represent an important step toward making P2G technology ready for the mass market.
