Green hydrogen can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions within and far beyond the electricity sector. It is considered to be a key element in the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries such as steel, chemicals and cement. In addition, hydrogen can play the role of carbon-neutral fuel (directly in a fuel cell or as starting material for synthetic diesel or kerosene) or of sustainable fuel for heat supply. Green hydrogen, which is produced using electricity from renewables, can replace fossil energy sources in other sectors and play a decisive role in achieving climate goals.

Sector coupling is also the area addressed by the project in Rostock, which focusses on ways to produce and use green hydrogen. The project involves a consortium of local players cooperating with RWE Generation and RWE Renewables to explore building up to one gigawatt (GW) of onshore electrolysis capacity. Electrolysis is a method involving the use of renewable energy to convert water to hydrogen. This climate-neutral, zero-carbon energy source can then be used in various sectors, e.g. industry, transportation and heat. The project thus covers all the paths to classic sector coupling, i.e. waste heat utilisation, Power-to-Heat (PtH) as well as hydrogen production for local and regional truck, public and rail transport.

Located on the Baltic Sea coastline, Rostock harbours substantial potential for this undertaking. Green hydrogen can be used in the port city in a host of maritime and industrial applications as well as in heat supply. This creates numerous prospects for buyers. The electricity required to produce the hydrogen comes from wind farms on the Baltic Sea and other renewable sources.

A variety of applications and the vicinity to offshore wind farms and the offshore test and innovation area off the coast of Warnemünde provide a promising setup for a profitable business case in the near future. The port is also a promising location as it lends itself to be integrated into import infrastructure in the long run. A local site for green ammonia production and export is another topic of the talks concerning the project.

RWE Generation and RWE Renewables explore onshore hydrogen production with local players

• An industrial consortium is looking into building up to one gigawatt (GW) in onshore electrolysis capacity. The aim is to convert green electricity from offshore wind farms and other renewable sources to green hydrogen.
• The regional Hy!Rostock initiative by the city and county promotes public acceptance while laying the groundwork for widespread use of green hydrogen in various areas forming a Rostock hydrogen region. The project optimises utilisation and profitability through the flexible adjustment of green electricity usage in various applications.

Potential applications and elements of hydrogen infrastructure

• The Hy!Rostock initiative is exploring all paths to classic sector coupling such as waste heat usage, Power-to-Heat (PtH) as well as hydrogen production for local and regional truck, public and rail transport.
• Being a port city, Rostock offers prospects to maritime and industrial hydrogen buyers while harbouring potential for the creation of import infrastructure over the long term.
• A local site for the production and export of green ammonia rounds off the project's potential configuration.