Neuman & Esser has been selected to supply two four-crank, horizontal piston compressors to German energy company EWE for its ambitious hydrogen storage initiative along the North Sea coast. The compressors, model size 320, will play a crucial role in EWE’s “Clean Hydrogen Coastline” project, aimed at converting a former natural gas cavern in Huntorf, Lower Saxony, into a large-scale hydrogen storage facility. EWE plans to begin hydrogen storage operations at the site by 2027.
“This contract marks a decisive contribution to Germany’s green hydrogen economy,” said Jens Wulff, Managing Director of Neuman & Esser Deutschland. “We are proud to supply the heart of this storage facility, a project made possible with government support for strategically important initiatives like this.”
The Huntorf project is part of a broader four-pronged initiative focused on hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and usage, aligned with Europe’s energy transition objectives. In 2024, EWE secured funding approval for the project through the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) program and is currently in the planning phase.
The compressors, provided by the nearly 200-year-old family-owned company Neuman & Esser, will ensure the safe and efficient transfer of hydrogen into and out of the salt cavern. EWE previously demonstrated the feasibility of hydrogen storage in salt caverns at a pilot site near Berlin, and now seeks to scale the technology for commercial applications.
Peter Schmidt, Managing Director of EWE Gasspeicher, highlighted the company’s leadership in hydrogen storage, stating, “With 37 salt caverns, EWE alone holds 15% of Germany’s suitable hydrogen storage capacity. Our goal is to establish a network of large-scale storage caverns to ensure a flexible and reliable hydrogen supply.”
Both companies emphasized the project’s significance in advancing green hydrogen integration into existing infrastructure, marking a key step toward the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy in Germany.