Originally announced in April 2022, the project set to be developed by RWE Gas Storage West is hoped to be operational by 2027, offering hydrogen storage on the German energy multinational’s site in Kottiger Hook.

Expected to come as Germany’s ‘first’ hydrogen cavern storage facility, RWE in October last year (2022) said it added an additional cavern to the planned site, offering two caverns for large-scale hydrogen storage.

Read more: Hydrogen storage in salt caverns: Dispelling the myths

H2 View understands once the local Government has reviewed the approval documentation, it will publish the application documents.

Additionally, the company will host an information day related to the submission of the planning approval documents on March 28, 2023, at Hotel Schepers in Epe, Gronau to outline plans for the project.

RWE has applied for funding for the construction of the storage facility within the framework of the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Hydrogen. The company has said, since funding has not yet been approved, its final investment decision (FID) is still pending.

The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia have selected the RWE project to receive national funding if approved at a European level, according to RWE.

In January (2023), RWE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Norwegian petroleum company Equinor to develop a hydrogen value chain between Norway and Germany.

Read more: Hydrogen power plants, production, and pipelines: Equinor and RWE sign agreement

Under the agreement, the companies aim to replace coal-fired power plants with hydrogen-ready plants in Germany, build low-carbon and renewable hydrogen production in Norway planned to be exported to Germany through a pipeline.