German state could build 800MW hydrogen-ready gas plant

The German state of Bavaria could build a new 800MW hydrogen-ready combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant.

A letter of intent between the state government and energy firm Onyx Power outlines plans for the CCGT at the Zolling Energy Park (ZEP), North of Munich, as the country prepares tenders for required for hydrogen operation by 2045.

Onyx could be awarded the project tender, which comes under Germany’s Electricity Supply Security and Capacity Act (StromVKG), a draft law introduced earlier this year aimed at establishing a market paying providers to maintain backup power when renewable energy is insufficient.

While a project timeline was not revealed, the state of Bavaria said the plant is intended to strengthen the ZEP’s importance beyond 2031.

Onyx power plant manager in Zolling, Roman Ritter, said that flexible power plants will be critical for Germany’s energy transition.

“To realise this project, we now need reliable legal frameworks and functioning tendering mechanisms,” he added.

The announcement comes shortly after think tank the Institutate for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis warned that committing to the build-out of generating assets ahead of certain clean hydrogen demand could contribute to a €45bn gap in public finances – primarily driven by the overbuild of the country’s 9,000km hydrogen core network.

However, Germany recently hydrogen transport mandates aimed at incentivising production of green hydrogen and penalising non-compliance. Industry proponents say these could drive significant demand by 2040.

Hydrogen gas power plants are gaining interest for their ability to use stored renewable energy from curtailed wind during periods of low generation.

and recently opened calls for tenders for such plants.