A milestone for green hydrogen in Germany and Europe: The first electrolyzer stacks from Sunfire have arrived at the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park. This brings the commissioning of the 30-megawatt (MW) plant within reach, which will supply the regional chemical industry with renewable hydrogen.
Electrolyzer Assembly Begins
With the delivery of the first blocks, the installation of the electrolysis stacks at the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park begins. They form the heart of Sunfire’s pressurized alkaline electrolyzer. A total of six high-performance stacks, each consisting of six blocks and providing a combined capacity of 30 megawatts, will produce up to 4,000 tons of green hydrogen per year.
“The stacks are the heart of the electrolyzer. Their delivery marks the transition from the construction phase to implementation and is the result of months of hard work by the entire team,” said Xenia Papst, Senior Commercial Manager Hydrogen Germany at Uniper. “The stacks convert renewable electricity from the wind turbines at the energy park into hydrogen – efficiently, modularly, and scalable. With each additional stack, the plant’s capacity grows until we finally reach 30 MW and can connect this central component to the supply.”
Aron Guttowski, Senior Manager Project Management Electrolysis at Sunfire, adds: “In a real-world laboratory like this, the value of working with strong partners becomes clear. Together, we combine our years of experience and expertise in the hydrogen sector, learning from each other, and strengthening each other. At the same time, we demonstrate that hydrogen technologies, as deployed in Bad Lauchstädt, already work today and are ready for industrial application.”
Modularity Meets Industrial Readiness
Each module is a building block of the overall plant: step by step, capacity grows to the full 30 megawatts. The project demonstrates that innovative electrolyzer technologies are ready for industrial use today. Collaboration within the consortium with Uniper, VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH, and other partners turns the energy park into a true real-world laboratory – from hydrogen production to its use in the regional chemical industry.
A Strong Signal for the Energy Transition
The produced hydrogen is transported directly to TotalEnergie’s refinery in Leuna via a former gas pipeline. The project demonstrates how renewable energy, innovative electrolyzer technology, and existing infrastructure can work together to create climate-neutral supply chains. Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park is one of the largest pilot projects of its kind in Europe and proves that green hydrogen is technically feasible, economically viable, and a key building block for the energy transition.
Once assembly is complete, commissioning will begin. “For the project team, this is a moving moment that shows how far we have already come. After commissioning, green hydrogen will be produced here for the first time on an industrial scale – up to 4,000 tons per year,” explained Cornelia Müller-Pagel, spokesperson for the Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park consortium. “With this, we make an important contribution to supplying the Central German Chemical Triangle.”
Find more Information about Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park
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Sunfire is a global leader in the production of industrial electrolyzers based on pressurized alkaline and solid oxide (SOEC) technologies. With its electrolysis solutions, Sunfire is addressing a key challenge of today’s energy system: Providing renewable hydrogen and syngas as climate-neutral substitutes for fossil energy. Sunfire’s innovative and proven electrolysis technology enables the transformation of carbon-intensive industries that are currently dependent on fossil-based oil, gas, or coal. The company employs more than 650 people located in Germany and Switzerland.
For more information visit www.sunfire.de
