To advance the phase-out of coal by 2030, RWE is developing gas-fired and hydrogen-ready power plants in Germany. Following the project in Weisweiler, the company is moving forward with a similar plant in Werne, located in the southern Münsterland. At the Gersteinwerk power plant, the company plans to build a hydrogen-ready combined cycle power plant (CCGT) with a rated capacity of around 800 megawatts.
Plan to eliminate coal by 2030 with power plants
Nikolaus Valerius, CEO of RWE Generation SE, commented:”With the planning of a hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plant in Gersteinwerk, we are taking proactive steps to be ready in 2030. With the construction of this new power plant, we want to contribute to the ecological security of supply and ensure the phase-out of coal by 2030. This requires key policy decisions as a matter of urgency. We will only be able to make a final investment decision when the site’s connection to a hydrogen network is guaranteed and commercial conditions are viable.“
The German government has also announced that its energy strategy will soon provide a regulatory framework for tendering power plants. gas-fired and hydrogen-ready gas-fired and hydrogen-ready power plants. The company intends to participate in these tenders. According to recent plans for hydrogen infrastructure in Germany, the Gerstein plant in Werne could be close to a future hydrogen transport pipeline.
A consortium formed by Ansaldo Energia (Italy) and Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain) won the bidding process of RWE for the hydrogen-ready CCGT. The signed contract includes planning approval of the power plant as a first step.
RWE plant in Werne ready for 2030
The planning process has already begun, which is crucial for the company to start implementing the project once the investment decision has been made. According to current planning, the Werne plant could start generating electricity in 2030.
At start-up, the plant is expected to be able to use a fuel mix with at least 50% hydrogen, and the goal is to run exclusively on hydrogen at a later stage.
The transition to the use of hydrogen hydrogen as an energy source in power plants not only represents a significant step towards decarbonization, but also drives the development of innovative technologies in the energy sector. Infrastructure for hydrogen transport and storage, as well as the integration of these technologies with renewable sources, will be key to the success of these initiatives.
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Source and photo: rwe