The focus of the work is to define what role hydrogen can play in the future evolution of Uniper’s coal power plants, Siemens stated. Coal-to-gas conversion and subsequent hydrogen co-firing would help substantially reduce emissions at ageing lignite and hard coal-fired plant, allowing extending the life time of these assets.
Net-zero emission by 2035
Complying with the German government’s coal exit plan, Uniper agreed to close or convert its coal-fired power plants in Germany and ultimately all of Europe by 2025 at the latest. Uniper’s coal-exit plan is instrumental for the utility to reach its goal of reducing CO2 emissions in the European generation segment from 22 million tons today to net-zero emissions by 2035.
Today, Uniper already produces around 24 terawatt hours of carbon-free electricity with its hydroelectric and nuclear power plants in Germany and Sweden. Under its new strategy it intends to gradually increase the share of ‘green hydrogen’ in its conventional gas business, in both power generation and energy trading.
Coal-to-hydrogen conversions
“Brownfield transformation” projects, as carried out by Siemens, help decarbonize coal-fired power plants and curb emissions from gas-fired plants, often by adding energy storage solution on site and allowing for hydrogen co-firing.
By building infrastructures for Power-to-X, Siemens is contributing to cross-sector decarbonization. The German manufacturer offers all core technologies for a long-term CO2-free energy supply – from power and heat generation by renewable energies or gas-fired power plants, to power transmission and distribution, to efficient electrolysis for hydrogen production.
Power-to-gas technology makes ‘green hydrogen’ possible has been pioneered by Uniper in its Falkenhagen plant, built in 2013, followed by another one in Hamburg in 2015. Uniper added a methanisation plant to the Falkenhagen plant in 2018 and is now forward cross-sector industrial projects together with refineries and the automotive industry.
“After the coal phase-out and the switch to a secure gas-based energy supply, the use of climate-friendly gas will be a major step towards successful energy system transformation. We are ready to invest, accelerate the decarbonization of our portfolio (…), and act openly in terms of technology by working with partners like Siemens,” said Uniper CEO Andreas Schierenbeck.
“We are only at the beginning,” Siemens board member Jochen Eickholt cautioned. Brownfield transformation and the design of the green hydrogen value chain can show that a CO2-free energy supply is possible and makes sense under real conditions and using existing plants. “Our future lies in hydrogen. This is what we are committed to as a company,” Eickholt underlined.