RWE plans 850MW hydrogen-ready power plant as German tender delays persist

The energy firm said the plant could be built at the site of its former power station in Voerde as it looks to align with the German government’s tender process for hydrogen-compatible gas-fired power plants.

The government is expected to release its tender framework, and RWE says it is already preparing to participate.

Germany plans to build 20GW of gas-fired and hydrogen-ready power plants by 2030, with companies set to be offered capex and opex subsidies.

It was initially planned to launch the hydrogen-capable power plant tenders by early 2025, but the process has since been delayed. Following the change in government and renewed talks with the European Commission, tenders are now expected no earlier than spring 2026.

RWE says it would start construction immediately after securing a contract.

In 2024, it commissioned GE Vernova and Tecnicas Reunidas to design and build the Voerde plant, with the duo carrying out approval planning based on “proven technologies.”

Under current plans, and assuming a successful bid, the Voerde plant could begin generating electricity in 2030.

“We are ready to invest in the construction of new hydrogen-compatible gas-fired power stations,” said RWE Generation CEO Nikolaus Valerius.

Due to the former coalition’s collapse, the new Friedrich Merz-led administration reopened negotiations with the EU, but looks likely to scale back the ambition from 20GW.

According to reports, the European Commission has agreed on initial framework conditions to support 12.5GW of capacity.

Valerius stressed, “We now need swift clarity from the federal government regarding the announced tendering regime.”

The IEA’s picture of hydrogen in power generation

With nations racing to decarbonise their energy systems, the role of hydrogen and derivatives in cleaner power generation has long been highlighted as a key element in bridging between periods of high and low renewable energy generation.

At the end of 2023, global installed power capacity using hydrogen and ammonia reached around 330MW, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Hydrogen Review 2024.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region accounted for more than 50% of the capacity, followed by North America with around 30% and Europe with 15%.

However, this picture is set to shift. By 2030, the IEA estimates, if all 32 announced hydrogen power generation projects are realised, capacity could total 7.1GW – or 5.2GW if projects at “very early stages” are excluded.

Asia is likely to retain its leadership, still accounting for around half of capacity (3.4GW), while Europe is set to take 40% (2.8GW). North America’s share is expected to fall to around 10% (900MW), according to the agency…

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