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Siemens to construct 6MW green hydrogen plant

  • Market: Electricity, Hydrogen
  • 28/09/20

German manufacturing firm Siemens will build a 6MW electrolysis plant to produce green hydrogen.

Construction is scheduled to start at the end of this year.

The plant is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2021 and will be located in the region of Wunsiedel, in the German state of Bavaria.

Green hydrogen will be produced from electricity from wind and solar farms located in the region. The hydrogen will be used to supply the transport and industry sectors, Siemens said.

The electrolysis should help to avoid bottlenecks and increase flexibility in the power grid, the firm said.

Earlier this year, German utility Uniper and Siemens signed a co-operation agreement to develop projects focused on green hydrogen. The German government agreed on the country's national hydrogen strategy in June. Under this strategy, it aims to invest €7bn in its domestic hydrogen sector by 2022.


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20/09/24

Equinor halts Norway-Germany H2 pipeline planning

Equinor halts Norway-Germany H2 pipeline planning

London, 20 September (Argus) — Norway's state-controlled Equinor said it has halted the development of a planned €4bn-6bn pipeline that would have exported hydrogen from Norway to Germany due to the lack of a viable business case. "There was no clarity on the regulatory side, there were no customers and there was no supply," an Equinor spokesperson told Argus . Equinor had said earlier this year that the pipeline was likely to follow in a later stage of development after its hydrogen production had started in mainland Europe, and that building the pipeline would be contingent on strong demand. "You don't invest in a pipeline €4bn-6bn just for transporting a few molecules," the company's director of hydrogen in northwest Europe, Henrik Solgaard Andersen, said at the time. "You need to believe in the market." Equinor announced a plan in early 2023 to supply hydrogen from Norway to German utility RWE for use in power plants. Equinor had envisaged making "significant quantities" of hydrogen from Norwegian gas with CO2 storage and eventually transitioning to renewable hydrogen. But Germany has shifted its plans for hydrogen power a couple of times since then. It also has ambitions to use hydrogen in sectors like steel, but companies have not yet taken firm investment decisions, meaning there is uncertainty about how much hydrogen demand will materialise and when. A joint study commissioned by the German and Norwegian governments last year and carried out by Norwegian state-owned offshore pipeline operator Gassco and the Germany Energy Agency (Dena) found the pipeline to be technically viable. Gassco was not immediately available to comment on whether it would continue developing the pipeline without Equinor. The loss of the pipeline from a current energy trading partner and close ally looks to have choked off one of the most plausible import corridors envisaged to meet Europe's expected demand. The pipeline capacity would have been 10GW by 2038, RWE and Equinor said previously, equating to 2.6mn t/yr of hydrogen based on its lower heating value. By Aidan Lea Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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SE Asian power grid phase 2 to double traded capacity


20/09/24
News
20/09/24

SE Asian power grid phase 2 to double traded capacity

Singapore, 20 September (Argus) — The Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore power integration project (LTMS-PIP) will be enhanced under its second phase to double the capacity of electricity traded, Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) announced today. The second phase of the LTMS-PIP will double the amount of electricity traded from 100MW to a maximum of 200MW. The LTMS-PIP was launched in June 2022 , with the project connecting up to 100MW of renewable power supply from Laos to Singapore. The EMA did not disclose details on timelines for the second phase. The expansion of the capacity of electricity traded will be done by introducing multi-directional power trade, under which Malaysia will provide additional supply, said the EMA. This will also boost the development of the Asean power grid to better meet southeast Asia's growing energy demand, said the EMA. Enhancing multilateral and multidirectional electricity trading in the region will strengthen grid resilience and promote energy integration, it added. The EMA has granted an extension to Singapore conglomerate Keppel's electricity import licence for another two years, to support this next phase of the LTMS-PIP. Keppel will be able to import electricity from Malaysia, in addition to Laos . By Prethika Nair Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Kosovo confident in winter 24-25 supply: TSO


19/09/24
News
19/09/24

Kosovo confident in winter 24-25 supply: TSO

London, 19 September (Argus) — Kosovar transmission system operator (TSO) Kostt is confident it can meet demand over the winter season through domestic generation and imports, Kostt told Argus in an interview ahead of the Energy Week Western Balkans conference. Domestic generation capacity is not enough to meet demand during periods of high consumption, such as during the winter season, and imports will be necessary during peak tariff periods to meet demand, the TSO said. Maximum demand over the upcoming winter season is expected to reach 1.45GW, and transmission capacity can reach 1.85GW under normal operating conditions, Kostt said. Kosovar distribution company Keds and energy supplier Kesko had to import up to 35pc of power during peak periods in December last year, when peak demand reached 1.1GW. Annual maintenance at the 680MW Kosova B lignite-fired plant was completed on 18 August, and the plant is scheduled to be fully available over the winter season. Constraints on the electric system should be reduced in the upcoming winter season, as Keds has started metering the four Serbian-majority municipalities located in the country's north in January . Kostt was responsible for supply in the region last year, but received payment through subsidies from the Kosovar government, rather than tariffs. But subsidies were sometimes delayed, which created challenges in balancing real-time deviations within Kostt's control area, the TSO said. An agreement was reached last year with Serbian state-owned utility EPS subsidiary Elektrosever to normalise power supply for the Serbian majority municipalities, which were not paying for the unauthorised withdrawal of electricity. Elektrosever is now responsible for supply in the region and submits daily nominations and adheres to balancing requirements, although Kostt still meets its financial requirement to cover losses in the transmission system. There have been no violations of the operational terms since the agreement went into effect on 1 January, Kostt said. "System operations have become more stable, and deviations are now within the Entso-e acceptable limits," Kostt said. And Elektrosever has agreed to Kostt's request to submit an electricity supply plan for the region for 2025. By Annemarie Pettinato Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Western Australia to allow some onshore gas exports


19/09/24
News
19/09/24

Western Australia to allow some onshore gas exports

Darwin, 19 September (Argus) — Western Australia's (WA) state government will allow onshore developers of gas fields to export about 20pc of their output as LNG during a five-year window, in response to a growing failure to bring on new supplies for the domestic market. WA previously banned onshore gas exports, except in the case of Australian independent Beach Energy's 250 TJ/d (6.7mn m³/d) Waitsia stage 2 project . Beach may be required to share its infrastructure with fellow Perth basin firms, the WA government said, to expedite market access for new projects. Australian mining firm Mineral Resources, which has argued for permission to export 85pc of the gas from its Lockyer project as LNG and fellow WA-based firm Strike Energy may benefit from the changes, as both hold significant reserves in the Perth basin. The changes apply to new onshore developments or existing projects seeking to expand production. Developers are required to reserve 80pc of gas produced for WA, with this rising to 100pc from 2031 onwards. The policy shift follows dire outlooks for WA's gas supplies as the state attempts to wean itself off coal-fired power generation. It currently contributes about a third of the electricity into the state's largest power grid. A parliamentary report last month warned WA cannot rely on sporadic appeals for more gas to meet demand. "These policy changes are sensible responses that balance the need for Western Australia to secure its energy future while encouraging onshore producers to bring on more gas supply as and when it is needed," mines and petroleum Minister David Michael said on 19 September. The 15pc reservation for offshore LNG projects will continue, while WA has promised more transparency on the policy with the publication of a yearly WA Domestic Gas Statement to reveal how producers are meeting obligations, with a review to take place after two years. An interim parliamentary report tabled earlier this year showed about 8pc of the state's offshore gas output has reached WA consumers since 2006, representing just over half the required volumes. Following public criticism of LNG producers' contributions, Australian independent Woodside Energy has since pledged an extra 32PJ (854mn m³) of domestic supplies by the end of 2025 . WA will also seek to strengthen laws designed to prevent companies banking prospective onshore oil and gas tenements, with a review into the "use it or lose it" policy to be led by the state's energy department. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Hoekstra to face 'tough' EU parliamentary hearings


18/09/24
News
18/09/24

Hoekstra to face 'tough' EU parliamentary hearings

Brussels, 18 September (Argus) — EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, who has been nominated again for the role, is expected to face "tough" hearings in the European Parliament, according to a senior European official. The official told Argus that Hoekstra might have a "slight" advantage, as he underwent parliamentary hearings in 2023 when he took over fellow Dutchman Frans Timmermans' climate portfolio. At the time, Hoekstra was questioned extensively about past work with Shell and on climate issues. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen put forward new commissioner candidates on 17 September, assigning Hoekstra the climate, net-zero, and clean growth portfolio. All candidates will undergo hearings before the EU parliament votes on the new commission line-up. Hoekstra has said he is "honoured and humbled", but formal appointment depends on how he performs during the hearings before the European Parliament's energy, environment and other committees. Hoekstra's mandate would include drafting legislation to enshrine a 90pc cut in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040, from 1990 levels, into European law. The commission's 2040 target, revealed in February, referred to a "net GHG emissions reduction of 90pc". Hoekstra last year made a "personal" commitment to defend a "minimum target of at least 90pc" net GHG cuts. Von der Leyen has tasked Hoekstra with designing climate policies for the post-2030 period and developing an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act. Other key objectives include channelling investment toward net-zero infrastructure and ensuring revenues from the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) are used "effectively" to drive decarbonisation. Hoekstra's responsibilities extend to advancing a single market for CO2, boosting carbon removals for hard-to-abate sectors, and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. Hoekstra would work closely with former Danish climate minister Dan Jorgensen, who is nominated for the energy and housing portfolio, if both are appointed. Jorgensen will be responsible for advancing the Electrification Action Plan for industrial transition and overseeing a roadmap to phase out Russian energy imports. He is tasked with ensuring the "full use" of joint procurement mechanisms, with a mandate to extend the current aggregated demand system from gas to include hydrogen and potentially other commodities. Supervising both Hoekstra and Jorgensen, in addition to von der Leyen, will be Teresa Ribera, Spain's former climate minister. Ribera has been nominated as executive vice-president for a clean, just and competitive transition. European Parliament officials expect to receive financial declarations and other procedural documents in the coming days. That will allow parliamentary committees to send written questions to Hoekstra and other nominated commissioners, officially kicking off the hearing process. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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