Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park Reaches Next Project Phase

The first electrolysis stacks have arrived at the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park. This marks the beginning of the installation of the electrolyzer for the production of green hydrogen – an important milestone on the path toward a climate-neutral energy supply for central Germany’s chemical triangle. With the delivery of the first stacks, the project moves from the construction to the implementation phase. The newly delivered units form the core of the facility, which will use electricity from a nearby wind farm to produce climate-neutral hydrogen on an industrial scale. The pressurized alkaline electrolyzers are supplied by Dresden-based manufacturer Sunfire and consist of three modules, each with a capacity of 10 megawatts.

The Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park is one of the largest pilot projects of its kind in Europe. It demonstrates how renewable energy, modern electrolysis technology, and transport infrastructure can be combined into a fully integrated system. For the first time, the entire green hydrogen value chain – from generation using renewable power, through storage and transport, to industrial use in the regional chemical industry – is being tested on an industrial scale.

Planning and construction of the 30-megawatt electrolyzer are being carried out by VNG Handel & Vertrieb and Uniper. The facility will produce up to 4,000 tons of hydrogen per year, which will be transported via a repurposed natural gas pipeline operated by Ontras to the TotalEnergies refinery. The 25-kilometer pipeline is part of Germany’s emerging hydrogen core network.

According to VNG, the project makes an important contribution to securing the hydrogen supply for the central German chemical region while strengthening the long-term economic viability of hydrogen production. Electrolyzer manufacturer Sunfire describes the Energy Park as a “real-world laboratory” for the energy transition: the project demonstrates that hydrogen technologies are already ready for practical, large-scale application – paving the way toward a CO₂-free industry.