Electrolyser delivered to ArcelorMittal Bremen

A milestone has been achieved in the HyBit hydrogen project, with the delivery in mid-October of an electrolyser for the large-scale hydrogen project in northern Germany. The joint project by swb, EWE and ArcelorMittal Bremen is intended to reduce CO₂ emissions in steel production and herald the beginning of the industry’s decarbonisation.

The equipment was delivered via heavy haulage vehicle, which travelled from the manufacturer based in the Dutch village of Farmsum to Bremen’s Mittelsbüren district. The delivery consisted of two separate modules, which were connected to one another on site. The larger module is a container measuring 1,250 x 380 x 350 centimetres and weighs around 32 metric tons. The actual electrolysis will take place inside this after it is switched on. The smaller utility container has the dimensions of a 40-foot container (1,219 x 244 x 259 cm) and weighs 10 metric tons.
The electrolyser delivered to the facility will be the centrepiece when it comes to green hydrogen production. The process is as follows: desalinated water is subjected to an electrical current from renewable energy sources inside the container units. The electrical voltage splits the surrounding water into oxygen and hydrogen. This process is called electrolysis.
Dr Thomas Bünger, CEO of ArcelorMittal Flat Products in Germany, comments: “Decarbonising steel production is a marathon. With the electrolyser now delivered, we have reached another important milestone for our Bremen plant. Once it is started up, we will be able to start using the first hydrogen in our processes. With the planned shift in production technology over the coming years, we and our partners are resolutely pushing ahead with the transformation to make net-zero steel production possible. The political and economic environment are crucial factors when it comes to implementing decarbonisation at pace.”
Stefan Dohler, CEO of EWE AG, adds: “The energy transition will not be possible without hydrogen. We need to replace conventional energy sources for our energy supply – but on the other hand, moving away from conventional energy sources also means finding alternatives to replace their function as a basic material in industrial applications. As well as being suitable as a fuel source and storage medium for renewables, green hydrogen is just as useful as a raw material in the relevant industrial processes. This makes it a key tool in the success of the transition to clean energy.”

The beginning of steelproduction beeing decarbonised 

HyBit is short for “hydrogen for Bremen’s industrial transformation” and marks the beginning of steel production being decarbonised in the German city. The aim of HyBit is to produce green hydrogen at the swb power plant in Bremen’s Mittelsbüren district using electrolysis by way of the electrolyser.
The construction of the electrolysis system with a capacity of 10 megawatts will provide the foundation for green steel production in the northwest of Germany. The majority of the hydrogen produced in it will be supplied to the ArcelorMittal Bremen steelworks located close to the electrolyser. In the steel facility, the use of green hydrogen will in turn reduce CO₂ emissions.
The HyBit project is worth around 20 million euros in terms of investment volume, 10 million euros of which come from a grant issued by the State of Bremen.
Source: swb