Stadtwerke Kiel and INNIO are working on the conversion of the coastal power plant in Kiel that will allow to operate on 100% green H₂ by 2035, ten years ahead of the German government’s climate targets. With this, Europe’s most advanced large-scale engine-based combined heat and power plant is setting new global standards for climate neutral energy supply. An important requirement for keeping to the ambitious schedule is that sufficient green H₂ is available in time and on economic terms. Today, both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the project.

“We need flexible backup power plants so that Kiel and Germany can be securely supplied with power especially when the wind does not blow, and the sun does not shine. There is no getting around this basic law of physics,” said Dr. Jörg Teupen, Board Member for Technology and Personnel at Stadtwerke Kiel AG. “In order to achieve climate neutrality for this type of power plant operation, H₂ must be readily available to us. However, this is dependent on Europe having an abundance of H₂ available over the coming years.”

The two companies’ joint ambition is founded upon the “Eight-Point Program: Route to Climate Neutrality” established by Stadtwerke Kiel AG. With the original aim to be fully climate neutral in the generation of power and district heating by 2040 at the latest. The energy supplier has now brought this date forward by five years to 2035 based on its H₂ project.

“We are setting new global standards in collaboration with Stadtwerke Kiel. The coastal power plant in Kiel is the first of its kind globally whose technology could theoretically be converted to green H₂ today. Nevertheless, for the conversion to happen no later than 2035, policymakers need to put the correct framework in place right now,” said Dr. Olaf Berlien, president and CEO of INNIO.

The Stadtwerke Kiel coastal power plant supplies more than 73,500 homes with ecofriendly district heating and generates electricity for the region. In doing so, the highly flexible large-scale engine-based combined heat and power plant ensures there is a secure and environmentally friendly supply of energy.

INNIO’s Jenbacher engines are the first H₂ engines at megawatt scale. The company, based in Tyrol, Austria, is among the first to be able to convert most of its installed engines to run on green H₂. The conversion of Jenbacher engines from natural gas to green H₂ will result in the advanced, flexible coastal power plant becoming entirely climate neutral by 2035.