HyCC and VNG to jointly develop green hydrogen projects for decarbonization of Central Germany

The Dutch hydrogen company HyCC and the German gas company VNG AG have launched project “GreenRoot” for the development of large-scale green hydrogen production to help industries in Central Germany reduce their CO2-emissions. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) towards this end at an existing electrolysis facility in Bitterfeld. 

The companies will start with a study on the technical feasibility and potential of green hydrogen production to decarbonize industries in Central Germany. The aim is to develop one or more electrolysis projects of industrial scale in the region in the next three to five years. 

Green hydrogen is produced from renewable electricity and water, using a process called electrolysis. This produces no CO2 or other harmful emissions. Hydrogen is vital to reach German and European climate goals, as it can be used produce materials such as steel, aviation fuels and essential chemicals and raw materials without CO2-emissions. Central Germany is home to a large chemical industry and a large potential market for green hydrogen.  

Stijn van Els, CEO of HyCC: “Central Germany has a long industrial tradition. By combining our expertise in electrolysis with the experience of VNG in supplying sustainable energy to the region, we make a major contribution to help transform these industries towards a more circular, sustainable model, based on green hydrogen.”

Ulf Heitmüller CEO of VNG AG: “We are very happy about the cooperation with HyCC. The future belongs to green hydrogen as a climate-friendly and CO2-neutral energy source. That´s why it is important to accelerate the run-up of green hydrogen with projects like these. We need industrial scale solutions in hydrogen to support the German energy transition. Our home region in Central Germany is the ideal location for this. So now as VNG we are taking another significant step ahead from our natural gas basis with green gases.”

Photo:  The agreement was signed at the existing electrolysis facility of Nobian in Bitterfeld. From left to right: Marcel Galjee (Managing Director of HyCC), Ulf Heitmüller (CEO of VNG), Stijn van Els (CEO of HyCC) and Hans-Joachim Polk (CTO of VNG). Photo by Anika Dollmeyer.