Joint press release from Infener and the city of Gengenbach
Gengenbach, 16th September 2024: Infener, a European leader in the production of green hydrogen, and the City of Gengenbach today announced plans for a 20-megawatt (MW) hub. The hub will produce up to 2,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, providing the Ortenau district with decentralized, cost-effective, and climate-neutral energy. Infener produces green hydrogen through water electrolysis in grid-supporting hydrogen (H2) hubs powered by renewable energy.
“Green hydrogen is not only key to the energy transition but also a significant growth factor for our regional economy and industry. Gengenbach is committed to establishing itself as a location for the production and use of green hydrogen. Infener’s H2 hub provides a reliable opportunity to make a carbon-free contribution to energy security in the Ortenau district,” emphasised Thorsten Erny, Mayor of Gengenbach.
The project, located in the “Kinzigpark I” industrial area, is currently in the conceptual phase. Its realization depends on the outcomes of this planning phase, the conclusion of purchase agreements, and the necessary investment decisions. In addition to the support of the mayor, the municipal utilities, and the regional economic development agency, the project is also backed by Climate Partners South Baden.
“Thanks to the high production capacity, we see great potential to attract regional partners who can further process both the hydrogen and the by-products produced. Such collaborations will be instrumental in creating a sustainable local ecosystem that strengthens not only the region but also the entire European economy,” said Joel Vogl, CEO and Co- Founder of Infener.
“Decentralised hydrogen supply is a key step towards the future of our city’s energy provision. To fully harness this potential, strong partnerships, such as the one with Infener, are essential,” explains Tom Gißler, Technical Director of the Gengenbach Municipal Utilities.
“The supply of green hydrogen to businesses and industry is crucial for the future viability of locations. The Black Forest Power Region strives for energy self-sufficiency, and Gengenbach and Infener are setting an important precedent with this project. We highly welcome this commitment,” said Dominik Fehringer, Managing Director of the regional economic development agency nectanet.
The H2 hub in Gengenbach could contribute to decarbonizing local logistics and industrial companies. For Infener, this project marks another milestone in the expansion of the green hydrogen market, which sustainably strengthens local value creation. Earlier this year, the company announced the start of construction for additional hubs in Villingen-Schwenningen and Neumünster. Infener aims to establish decentralized hubs across Europe as a leading producer of green hydrogen, significantly contributing to the implementation of the hydrogen strategy. The German government's National Hydrogen Strategy aims to establish a domestic electrolysis capacity of ten gigawatts (GW) by 2030—currently, around 0.1 GW is installed.
