North German Living Lab (NRL)

North German Living Lab (NRL)

Overview

The energy transition is technically feasible! That is the key finding of the completed project Northern German Energy Transition 4.0 (German: Norddeutsche EnergieWende (NEW) 4.0). This insight calls for action. The succeeding joint research project North German Real Lab (German: „Norddeutsches Reallabor“ (NRL)) builds on this insight and brings together over 50 project partners from economy, science and industry with the goal of assaying a transition path for an integrated energy system. If successful, the project can demonstrate, that a reduction of CO2 emissions by 75 per cent in Northern Germany is possible until 2035.

The NRL is spart of the support initiative „regulatory sandboxes of the energy transition“ (German: „Reallabore der Energiewende“) by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. More fundings are prodived by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. The associated partnership of Renewable Energy Hamburg is financially supported by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

Our cluster accounts for accompanying communication as associated partner to the project and encourages the exchange between the single players within the project. Find more information here.

NRL projects (under construction)

Promoter: Hamburg Airport
Partners involved: Sylt Airport, Sylt Air, Lübeck Air and Lübeck Airport, Ministry of Economics, Transport, Labour Technology and Tourism of the State of Schleswig-Holstein (MWVATT), Hamburg Aviation e.V., ZAL Zentrum für Angewandte Luftfahrtforschung, Hamburg Authority for

Development of the supply chain for green, gaseous hydrogen from production to the fuelling of aircraft or airport ground equipment, as well as test operations.

Promoter: Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA)

Innovation cluster to test hydrogen-powered equipment in port logistics

Promoter: hySOLUTIONS GmbH
Partners involved: Meyer Werft, BEHALA, OWI Oel-Waerme-Institut GmbH

Fuel cells in maritime practice

Promoter: HOCHBAHN
Partners involved: part of North German Real Lab (NRL - Norddeutsches Reallabor)

Procurement, approval and testing of fuel cell buses

Promoter: Alphabet Fuhrparkmanagement GmbH
Partners involved: part of North German Real Lab (NRL - Norddeutsches Reallabor)

Alphabet plans to purchase 150 fuel cell cars. As part of the North German Real Lab, these vehicles are leased to end customers. The vehicles are refueled at the hydrogen …

Promoter: Quest One
Partners involved: MAN Energy Solutions

Initially, around 200 employees will work herein the areas of production, development, testing and service.

Promoter: Infener AG

Hydrogen production with an electrolysis power of 50-150 MW

Promoter: ArcelorMittal
Partners involved: associated partner of North German Real Lab (NRL - Norddeutsches Reallabor)

Use of hydrogen for the direct reduction of iron ore in steel production

Promoter: Evos Hamburg GmbH
Partners involved: LOTHER GRUPPE

Storage and distribution of renewable fuels such as e-methanol, e-fuels (petrol and diesel), but also hydrogen and its derivatives

Promoter: Hamburger Energienetze

New hydrogen pipeline grid south of the Elbe, initially approx. 60 kilometres long and capable of supplying industrial companies in the port with green hydrogen by 2030

Promoter: Air Products

Large-Scale Green Energy Import Terminal in Hamburg

Promoter: Hamburger Energiewerke
Partners involved: Luxcara, Energiehub Moorburg GmbH (EHM)

Construction of 100 MWel of electrolysis capacity by 2025 at the site of the former Moorburg coal-fired power plant

Promoter: Hamburg Airport

Switching intralogistics vehicles to alternative drive systems, construction of an electrolyser to supply the airport's own fuel cell vehicle fleet

Partners involved: Hansewerk / Errichtung eines Wasserstoff-BHKWs zusammen mit BHKW Hersteller INNIO Jenbacher

Heat supply for 30 residential buildings, a sports centre, a children’s day-care facility, and the Othmarschen Park leisure centre with the help of a hydrogen CHP unit.

Promoter: H&R GmbH & Co. KGaA

Operation of a 5 MWel PEM dynamic electrolysis plant

Promoter: Airbus

Decarbonisation of production sites in the north with hydrogen applications

Promoter: Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA)

Development and commissioning of fuel cell-powered industrial trucks (van carriers)

Promoter: ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical Research

Testing of various fixed-wing and rotary-wing drones with gaseous or liquid hydrogen propulsion

Promoter: Gasunie

Hydrogen pipeline connecting northern Germany with Denmark and the Netherlands

Partners involved: Vattenfall, Arge Netz, MAN Energy Solutions

Electrolysis capacity of 50 MWel, production of over 22 t of hydrogen per day, partial methanation and natural gas feed-in

Promoter: Mabanaft
Partners involved: Air Products

Import terminal with storage and cracker for dehydration of green ammonia

Promoter: H&R Ölwerke Schindler GmbH
Partners involved: INERATEC, Mabanaft

Power-to-Liquid demonstration plant producing synthesis-based alternatives to fossil raw materials

Promoter: Stadtreinigung Hamburg
Partners involved: part of North German Real Lab (NRL - Norddeutsches Reallabor)

Trial operation of two large road sweepers and two refuse collection vehicles powered by fuel cells

Promoter: Still GmbH

Production facility for 24-volt fuel cell systems in warehouse trucks at the STILL plant in Hamburg

Promoter: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht

The ship combines the expertise of the Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon in coastal, membrane and hydrogen research. There is also a laboratory on board for the fuel cells and the …

Promoter: Storengy
Partners involved: Engie

Flagship project on an industrial scale for hydrogen storage in salt caverns for flexibility to compensate for fluctuations in production and consumption

Promoter: Hamburg Port Authority (HPA)
Partners involved: Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser GmbH, Smart Mobility Institute an der Hochschule Bremerhaven, Institut für Energie und Kreislaufwirtschaft an der Hochschule Bremen, Alstom sowie Bremenports

Research project of converting shunting locomotives in Bremen and Hamburg port areas to hydrogen

Promoter: Stadtreinigung Hamburg AöR
Partners involved: Technische Universität Hamburg

Biowaste treatment plant Bützberg (BKW Bützberg) with elektrolysis    

Promoter: ContiTech

Innovations and the transfer of existing technical solutions for new applications in the field of hydrogen technologies are to be promoted

Promoter: KMW Wind to Gas Energy GmbH & Co. KG

Electrolysis, hydrogen filling station and natural gas grid feed-in

About Katja Löwe

As part of the EEHH team, I can combine my know-how with my passion: networking, events and social media for my heart's topic, "renewables". In particular, the diverse applications of green hydrogen have fascinated and accompanied me and my professional career since 2011. Most recently, I worked at Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH, where I was able to expand the content of the conference fair "H2Expo" and then integrate the topic of hydrogen & sector coupling into the international trade fair "WindEnergy Hamburg".

Phone: +49 (0)40 69 45 73 - 13, email: