On September 30, 2024, German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz inaugurated a cutting-edge green hydrogen production facility at Quest One in Hamburg. This new gigahub is a key milestone in Germany’s energy transition, advancing the country’s commitment to environmentally friendly technologies.
Green hydrogen is critical to reducing carbon emissions in sectors like shipping and chemical production, where electrification is challenging. The new facility in Rahlstedt will produce electrolysers on a large scale, essential for hydrogen generation through electrolysis. Electrolysis uses stacks to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and these stacks will now be mass-produced, automating a process that previously required manual labor.
Germany has set ambitious goals for renewable energy. By 2030, 80% of the country’s electricity is expected to come from renewable sources, up from 40% just three years ago. Hydrogen plays a vital role in achieving this target. To support this, the German government has doubled its electrolysis capacity target to 10 gigawatts by 2030, funding the construction of large-scale electrolysers and the development of hydrogen infrastructure.
The new hydrogen core network, scheduled for operation by 2032, will connect key production and consumption centers across the EU. Germany is also heavily investing in industry-focused research, with over 3% of GDP allocated to research and development—leading Europe in this field.
This new gigafactory is the second of its kind in Germany, further solidifying the country’s leadership in green hydrogen innovation.
A transcript of the speech will be available here (in German only)
Find the original press relaease here.
