Hy2Gen acquires e-Gas plant and project pipeline of kiwi AG in Germany; formerly Audi e-Gas plant
12 December 2023
Hy2gen, a global project developer, financier, builder, owner, and operator of plants for the production of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen-based e-fuels, announced the successful acquisition of kiwi AG in Werlte, Lower Saxony, Germany. The acquisition includes what is currently the world’s largest operating power-to-eMethane plant in Werlte.
The plant can follow a fluctuating electricity supply schedule with a ramp-up time of 5 minutes from 0 to 100%. The plant is fully automatic and features more than 1000 sensors that allow in-depth monitoring.
The integration of kiwi AG marks an important milestone for Hy2gen, as it means the internationally active company is now entering into the production of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives, such as renewable natural gas (RNG) and renewable liquefied natural gas (LNG).
This also gives Hy2gen access to a pipeline of furtherprojects with a total capacity of 300MW for electrolysis and methanation. Hy2gen now has the opportunity to utilize kiwi AG’s already established industry connections and expand them further.
I am delighted that the first plant which we are using for production in Germany, in Werlte, is currently the world’s largest operating power-to-eMethane plant. The acquisition of the plant also enables us to expand our product portfolio from renewable hydrogen, renewable ammonia, e-methanol, e-methane and e-kerosene to include renewable natural gas and liquefied natural gas. We have already received a commitment from our renowned partner, Plug Power, to purchase the full production volume. It is important for me to mention that production processes will be maintained and that we will continue to rely on the expertise of all our employees.
—Matthias Lisson, Hy2gen’s Country Manager for the DACH region [Germany (D), Austria (A), and Switzerland (CH)]
The kiwi AG plant in Werlte, formerly Audi e-Gs (earlier post), is located not far from another Hy2gen project in Friesoythe. It is expected that the production of renewable hydrogen and renewable methanol, which is mainly used to decarbonize shipping, will begin in Friesoythe in the fourth quarter of 2027 under the project name NAUTILUS. Both sites in the north-west of Lower Saxony are strategically very important given their proximity to various North Sea ports. This ensures rapid product sales to international customers.
In 2013, the plant in Werlte, then managed by the Audi e-Gas project, was the first of its kind. In 2021, operations were transferred to what is now kiwi AG. The plant is still considered the world’s largest operating power-to-eMethane plant today. As a synthetic gas, eMethane is one of the products that can be produced using the power-to-gas process. Power-to-gas describes an energy industry concept in which hydrogen is produced using electrolysis and electricity.
Hy2gen AG, based in Wiesbaden, Germany, lobally develops, finances, builds, owns and operates plants for the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs). The company specialises in the entire product range—from renewable hydrogen, commonly known as “green” hydrogen, to renewable ammonia and hydrogen-based e-fuels. The first plants will be built in France, Norway, Canada, Germany and the US. Hy2gen’s goal is to become the market leader in the production of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives for climate-neutral mobility, agriculture, and industry.
Founded in 2017, the company’s first mover advantage is underlined by a current project pipeline in planning and construction of 1.9GW and a project pipeline of over 12GW of electrolysis capacity in development.
In 2019, Swiss commodity trader, Trafigura, and other private investors took a position in Hy2gen’s first-round financing. In early 2022, Hy2gen closed a further €200 million from French technology and engineering firm, TechnipEnergies; Québec pensio fund, CDPQ; French sustainable investment manager, Mirova; and the €2-billion Hy24 Clean Hydrogen Infrastructure Fund backed by Air Liquide, TotalEnergies, VINCI Concessions, Plug Power, Chart Industries, Baker-Hughes, and Airbus, among others. This remains one of the largest green hydrogen-focused private capital raises to date.