KEYOU and ENERTRAG announce cooperation at groundbreaking ceremony for Electrolysis Plant in Osterweddingen
One supplies the CO2-neutral hydrogen vehicles, the other the green hydrogen: Munich-based hydrogen mobility provider KEYOU and one of the world's leading renewable energy companies, ENERTRAG, announced their cooperation at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an electrolyzer near Magdeburg. The two companies plan to build a hydrogen mobility hub in Osterweddingen, using ENERTRAG's green hydrogen production and KEYOU's hydrogen trucks.
In Osterweddingen, near Magdeburg, the energy transition is entering the next phase: Yesterday's groundbreaking ceremony in the local industrial area marked the start of construction of an electrolyser from ENERTRAG, which will enable local industrial companies to cover their hydrogen needs in the future. ENERTRAG will produce green hydrogen, with the electrical energy required for the electrolysis coming exclusively from renewable sources - in this case from the company's own wind farms. In the medium term, the hydrogen will also be fed into the ONTRAS hydrogen pipelines. In a first expansion phase, a 10 MW PEM electrolyser is planned to produce around 900 tons of green hydrogen per year. The electrolyser will be operated as a back-up system to compensate for fluctuations in electricity generation from wind and solar power, thus reducing the load on the electricity grid.
The green hydrogen could be used to decarbonize heavy industry, as a fuel for heavy-duty transportation, to generate electricity during a "dark period," and to feed into hydrogen pipelines. At a later stage, the electrolysis plant may be expanded to add an additional 10 MW of capacity.
Cooperation between KEYOU and ENERTRAG overcomes the chicken-and-egg problem
The hen-and-egg story is a common one in the discussion of hydrogen mobility. It describes the underutilization of H2 refuelling stations due to the lack of competitive hydrogen vehicles on the one hand. On the other hand, vehicle manufacturers are reluctant to develop hydrogen vehicles due to the lack of a nationwide H2 infrastructure. H2 producers, filling station operators, vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators all complain about the lack of a business case for their companies.
KEYOU and ENERTRAG intend to solve this dilemma by working together and developing a holistic ecosystem. The two companies plan to set up a hydrogen mobility hub in Osterweddingen, Germany, where KEYOU customers will be able to purchase green hydrogen produced by ENERTRAG for their hydrogen-powered KEYOU trucks at attractive conditions as part of the "H2 Mobility as a Service" (H2MaaS) model.
Another partner of the mobility hub is Ryze Power GmbH. The company plans, builds and operates alternative fuel infrastructures for the transportation and industrial sectors as an alternative to diesel fuel. It procures these fuels from third parties and delivers them to B2B customers via its own infrastructure.
Hydrogen Mobility Hub as an attractive business case
"In the market entry phase, we want to rent out our hydrogen-powered trucks primarily in regions where fleet operators and hydrogen producers are equally located. The planned hydrogen mobility hub in Osterweddingen could have a signal effect for the whole of Germany, as it ensures that all parties involved in the region can build a robust business case: Fleet operators get a competitive vehicle with a zero-emission hydrogen engine and ensure that H2 filling stations are fully utilized, while producers of green hydrogen benefit from predictable purchase volumes from the transportation industry," said Thomas Korn, CEO and co-founder of KEYOU.
In his welcoming speech, Dr. Tobias Bischof-Niemz, Board Member for International Projects &Technology at ENERTRAG, emphasized the exemplary effect that the construction of the electrolyser will have for the region, but also for commercial vehicle fleets: "Hydrogen is an indispensable part of the energy transition, offering solutions for decarbonizing various sectors, from heavy industry to heavy-duty transportation. By connecting directly to our nearby wind and solar farms, this electrolyzer will not only produce green hydrogen, but also increase local value added.
The use of KEYOU hydrogen vehicles in the Osterweddingen region, which are powered by green hydrogen from ENERTRAG, is intended to promote the decarbonization of the transport fleets of logistics companies and thus also the value chains of end customers. This is a milestone not only for the commercial vehicle industry, but also for the Magdeburg region.
"We are delighted to have ENERTRAG, one of Germany's leading renewable energy companies, as our partner. It was clear from the very first discussions that we share a common vision. The project around Osterweddingen will be the proof of concept for further projects," says Korn, who is already working on further partnerships with H2 producers.
Dr. Bischof-Niemz from ENERTRAG adds: "In KEYOU, we have found the ideal partner for the planned hydrogen mobility hub in Osterweddingen, as we are pursuing a common goal: to establish hydrogen in the commercial vehicle sector. We are very much looking forward to realizing this lighthouse project together and proving that hydrogen mobility is not only feasible, but also indispensable, especially in the commercial vehicle sector".
Sustainable freight transport with 40t trucks from KEYOU and green hydrogen from ENERTRAG
KEYOU is poised to enter the market this year with the delivery of its first 18-ton Pioneer vehicles to pilot customers. This is the first demonstration of the market readiness of KEYOU's conversion technology and will prepare the market for further scaling. The hydrogen experts are currently working on adapting the KEYOU-inside system to a 40-ton semitrailer, with the aim of renting out the first vehicles to customers in the Osterweddingen region - using green hydrogen from ENERTRAG.
KEYOU wants to make the transition to the new drive technology as uncomplicated, predictable and risk-free as possible for its customers. The Munich-based company is therefore focusing on an all-round carefree mobility solution for fleet operators. In addition to the toll-exempt vehicle with zero-emission hydrogen engine, this includes fully comprehensive insurance coverage, a comprehensive service and maintenance package, and the fuel itself. Customers pay an agreed price per kilometer based on annual mileage, which includes all services.
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