Green Hydrogen from Hydropower: EnBW and Naturenergie Expand Electrolysis Capacity in Wyhlen to 6 MW

Grenzach-Wyhlen – EnBW and Naturenergie have inaugurated a new 5 MW electrolyser for green hydrogen production at the Grenzach-Wyhlen hydropower plant. Together with the existing 1 MW unit, electrolysis capacity at the site rises to 6 MW. Commercial operation of the new unit is scheduled for early 2027, following completion of commissioning and a trial period.

With the expansion, the H2-Wyhlen real-world laboratory, which has been running since 2021, enters its final phase. The project, backed by EUR 15 million in federal funding, tests hydrogen production under real operating conditions and is intended to generate findings for commercial deployment. The expansion comes as Germany's electrolysis ramp-up has so far been considerably slower than targeted by policymakers.

New 5 MW Electrolyser Can Respond Quickly to Power Supply

The two electrolysers in Wyhlen draw electricity from the neighbouring 38.5 MW run-of-river hydropower plant. While the existing 1 MW alkaline unit is designed for steady operation, the new 5 MW PEM electrolyser can ramp its output up and down quickly. This allows hydrogen production to be adjusted flexibly to power availability, a capability that is gaining importance as weather-dependent wind and solar power account for a growing share of the electricity system.

The site's infrastructure has also been expanded. New stationary storage units increase hydrogen storage capacity by 3.8 tonnes to around 5 tonnes. With four additional filling stations, seven bays will be available for filling pressure vessels on trucks. The hydrogen is to supply industrial and mobility customers in the border region of Germany, Switzerland and France.

H2-Wyhlen: EUR 40 Million Project Moves to Commercial Operation in 2027

The overall H2-Wyhlen project has a volume of around EUR 40 million. The federal government supports the real-world laboratory with EUR 15 million under its "Reallabore der Energiewende" programme, of which around EUR 9 million is allocated to the expansion. EnBW has taken over overall project management and research coordination, while Naturenergie operates the hydropower plant and the existing hydrogen facility.

The new electrolyser produced hydrogen for the first time at the end of July. Further components, including gas treatment, compressors and storage systems, are currently being tested and ramped up under real operating conditions. Technical commissioning is due to be completed by the end of 2026. After the trial period, Naturenergie will take over the new plant for commercial operation, which also ends the real-world laboratory.

Germany's Hydrogen Ramp-Up Lags Well Behind 10 GW Target

Germany's National Hydrogen Strategy calls for at least 10 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030. Hydrogen and its derivatives are intended to replace fossil fuels, particularly where direct electrification is difficult. The aim is also to reduce dependence on imported natural gas, oil and energy carriers derived from them.

Germany remains far from this target. According to the monitoring report of the Expert Commission on Energy Transition Monitoring, only around 160 MW of electrolysis capacity was installed as of mid-2025. Projects totalling around 1,200 MW for 2030 were under construction or had reached a final investment decision. The expert commission therefore concluded that the 10 GW target for 2030 has moved far out of reach.

Beyond adding capacity, the Wyhlen project addresses a further challenge: electrolysers can act as flexible consumers that respond to power supply. The new, fast-regulating electrolyser is intended to provide operating experience in this regard. If the ramp-up of domestic hydrogen production succeeds, hydrogen could not only replace fossil fuels in applications that are hard to electrify, but also help reduce dependence on fossil energy imports.

Source: IWR Online, 07 Oct 2026