Kraftanlagen Energies & Services GmbH is building a technology and application center for green hydrogen in Pfeffenhausen, Bavaria. It is one of four that are being built in Germany. The centerpiece of the plant, a 5 MW electrolyser, is being supplied by Norwegian manufacturer NEL. The hydrogen center will supply the first customers from March 2024.
According to the manufacturer, the alkaline electrolyzer will produce around 1.2 tons of hydrogen per day. The operator then wants to compress this to up to 450 bar and fill it into transport trailers. The transport trailers will then distribute the green hydrogen to bus and truck filling stations in the districts of Munich and Ebersberg. The plan is for the hydrogen from Pfeffenhausen to supply the ten fuel cell buses currently operated by the Munich Transport and Tariff Association.
The remaining hydrogen will be used to supply additional customers from the mobility and energy sectors. The electricity required to produce the hydrogen will initially come from a 12 MW photovoltaic plant in the immediate vicinity. There are also plans to build wind turbines on the site of the hydrogen center.
In addition to the key component - the alkaline electrolyzer - the H₂ center will have the following components upon completion:
- Low and high pressure compressors (200 bar & 450 bar)
- Trailer filling station for 3 trailers
- Plant control and safety systems
- Auxiliary systems (water treatment system, nitrogen system, cooling system)
- Two wind turbines
Start of operations 1.5 years after start of construction
The Pfeffenhausen hydrogen center is being supported by the federal government with € 72.5 million and the Free State of Bavaria with € 30 million.
Construction of the hydrogen center started in September 2022. Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder and Minister of State Hubert Aiwanger were also present at the ground-breaking ceremony. A small topping-out ceremony was held in June this year, at which the first of a total of four transport trailers was also delivered. The installation of the compressors was then completed at the end of August. In September, the largest H₂ filling station in Bavaria opened in Hofolding, which will be supplied from March 2024.
