EC clears green hydrogen JV in Germany's Dueren district

Dueren, a district in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, is making progress in its plan to produce green hydrogen for the local public transport after receiving a regulatory nod to set up a joint venture that will implement the project.

The European Commission (EC) on Wednesday gave the green light to the creation of a joint company by the district of Dueren, industrial gases producer Messer Group, energy company RWE AG (ETR:RWE) and Siemens AG (ETR:SIE).

Dueren and the three companies agreed in February to form the new company which will develop, build and operate a plant and filling stations for the production and sale of hydrogen in the town of Juelich in the Dueren district.

The district's project includes the construction of a solar park of 18,000 solar panels in Juelich which will power an electrolyser that will produce green hydrogen. Local renewables company F&S Solar is responsible for the construction of the solar park, while Siemens will build the electrolyser.

Construction of the production facilities should start by the end of this year and be completed in 2022.

The district of Dueren will use the green hydrogen to supply the local public transport which is being currently converted to e-mobility. The district is planning to buy five hydrogen buses and put into operation four hydrogen trains as well as build five hydrogen filling stations, it said back in February. The green hydrogen will be used also by the local industry or shipping companies.

The project is part of Dueren's efforts to become climate-neutral by 2035.

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