Westenergie and Stadtwerke Munster cooperate on hydrogen
Westenergie AG and the Stadtwerke Münster Group want to jointly promote the ramp-up of green hydrogen in Münster.
With their subsidiaries, Westnetz GmbH and Stadtnetze Münster GmbH, the two companies agreed to work closely together along the value chain of the green energy source. In a letter of intent, the four companies now agree to exchange experiences on a hydrogen infrastructure and possible supply agreements. To this end, the companies involved are setting up a joint project organisation.
“Green hydrogen is an energy carrier of the future and will help defossilize the energy system in Germany. With our cooperation, we are laying the foundation for a future hydrogen economy and infrastructure in Münster today,” emphasize Katherina Reiche, CEO of Westenergie, and Sebastian Jurczyk, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Münster.
The hydrogen ramp-up is also a topic for the future for network operators. That is why the cooperation agreement also includes the network subsidiaries Westnetz and Stadtnetze Münster. As part of the cooperation, exchanges are to be held, among other things, on the conversion of existing natural gas networks for the transport of green hydrogen. “In order for the hydrogen ramp-up to succeed, suitable infrastructure is needed with which hydrogen can be transported to customers. As a network operator, we have to plan tomorrow’s networks today,” emphasize Alexandra Rösing, Managing Director of Stadtnetze Münster, and Dr. Patrick Wittenberg, Managing Director of Westnetz.
In Germany’s climate protection strategy, hydrogen plays a key role as an energy source that can replace fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal and oil. The aim is to massively reduce local CO 2 emissions on the basis of hydrogen technology.
Hydrogen can be used flexibly, for example in power generation, in energy-intensive industry or as a fuel in heavy goods, shipping and air traffic.
With the electrolysis process, hydrogen can be obtained from water (H 2 O) in a completely CO 2 -neutral manner. The water (H 2 O) is broken down into its chemical components hydrogen (H 2 ) and oxygen (O). In order for hydrogen to have a positive impact on the climate, the electricity used for electrolysis must come from renewable sources.
In 2020, the Federal Government adopted the National Hydrogen Strategy and is funding various initiatives and research projects on hydrogen.
