First Funding Handed Over to Stadtwerke Trier in Hydrogen Competition

With today's handover of the first funding decision in the hydrogen competition part of the Municipal Investment Program for Climate Protection and Innovation (KIPKI) in Trier, the state government of Rhineland-Palatinate is sending a strong signal for the promotion of climate-neutral hydrogen technologies. Minister of Economic Affairs Daniela Schmitt ceremoniously handed over the decision to Stadtwerke Trier for the “Green hydrogen at the Bitburg site” project, which is being supported with a grant of 2.6 million euros.

“We have to shape climate protection in a way that is open to technology and economically successful. Hydrogen technology is a crucial building block on our path to climate neutrality,” emphasized Minister Schmitt at the handover ceremony. “With projects like this, we are laying the foundations for a sustainable, regional energy transition and at the same time strengthening economic innovation in Rhineland-Palatinate.”

The project focuses on the construction of a 1 MW electrolysis plant, which will be built at the Bitburg site. The plant will use renewable energy to produce green hydrogen, which will be converted into biomethane as part of a methanation process and fed into the gas grid. The use of power-to-gas technology (PTG) makes it possible to store seasonal energy surpluses and provide them as heat and electricity at times of higher demand. The modular design also allows for flexible expansion - for example for industrial applications such as hydrogen filling stations.

“Stadtwerke Trier has achieved true lighthouse status with its convincing concept and commitment,” continued Schmitt. “As the first project in the hydrogen competition of the KIPKI program, this project marks an important step towards scaling up the technology on an industrial scale and strengthening regional value creation. The entire Trier region will benefit.”

“SWT is the driving force behind the energy transition in and around Trier. This pioneering project for the production of green hydrogen will not only make it possible to store seasonal surpluses from renewable energies in the future, but also to gradually replace fossil import gas by processing it into biomethane. This will strengthen the region's security of supply and ensure affordable energy prices for the people,” said Lord Mayor Wolfram Leibe.

The state government's KIPKI program, which is endowed with 25 million euros, specifically supports projects with a lighthouse character that serve as pioneers for climate-neutral hydrogen technologies. Of the 24 applications submitted, Stadtwerke Trier is one of the projects selected to receive funding as part of the competition.

“The knowledge gained here should radiate far beyond the Bitburg site. Our hydrogen coordination center networks companies, municipalities and research institutions in order to jointly accelerate the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Rhineland-Palatinate,” added Schmitt.

The total costs of the project amount to around 6 million euros. Thanks to its modular design, the plant can be expanded to produce larger quantities of green gases in the long term and open up new fields of application.