RWE unveils plan for 800MW 'hydrogen-ready' gas-fired power plant in Germany

RWE has announced plans to build an 800MW gas-fired power plant in Germany that will be ready to use hydrogen as fuel. This initiative is part of RWE's strategy to phase out coal by 2030. The company previously started a similar project in Weisweiler in the Rhenish mining area and is now moving forward with plans for another plant in Werne, located in the southern Münsterland region. The new plant, named Gersteinwerk, will feature a combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) capable of generating around 800 megawatts of power.

RWE has engaged an Italian-Spanish consortium for the project planning, consisting of Ansaldo Energia and Tecnicas Reunidas. The planning approval process has already begun, as stated by Nikolaus Valerius, CEO of RWE Generation SE. He emphasized that the planning approval for the hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plant at Gersteinwerk is a proactive measure to ensure the project can be completed by 2030. The success of this project will require timely decisions from policymakers and a secure connection to a hydrogen network.

The German government has recently announced plans to create a regulatory framework for tendering hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plants. RWE intends to participate in these tenders to help secure green energy supplies and support the coal phase-out. The proposed plant in Werne is expected to be located near a future hydrogen transport pipeline, enhancing its operational feasibility.

The consortium's contract includes the initial planning approval for the power plant. This step is crucial for RWE to begin project implementation as soon as the final investment decision is made. According to current plans, the Werne plant could start generating electricity by 2030. Initially, it will operate with a fuel mix containing at least 50% hydrogen, with the goal of eventually running entirely on hydrogen.