© RWE

RWE has launched a binding tender for the final 30% of hydrogen storage capacity at its Gronau-Epe facility in North Rhine-Westphalia. The tender opens on June 16 and targets companies seeking to secure hydrogen storage from January 1, 2028.

Gronau-Epe Construction Reaches Milestones

Construction at the Gronau-Epe site—Germany’s first commercial hydrogen storage facility—is progressing. Two salt caverns are being developed, with a total working gas volume of 38 million cubic meters and injection and withdrawal capacity of 50,000 cubic meters per hour. RWE plans to begin filling the first cavern with hydrogen by mid-2026.

Commissioning Timeline and Phased Rollout

Commercial operations for the already-booked 70% of storage capacity are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2027. The remaining 30% will go live on January 1, 2028, due to technical readiness of the second cavern, which requires brine displacement before becoming operational.

Part of the Larger “GET H2” Project

Gronau-Epe is a key component of the broader “GET H2” initiative. It is supported by a 300MW electrolyzer project in Lingen, Lower Saxony, which will be connected to the storage site via a dedicated hydrogen pipeline currently under commissioning.

Public Funding and Infrastructure Investment

The German federal and Lower Saxony state governments have committed €619 million ($717.5 million) in total funding to RWE’s hydrogen infrastructure. Of this, €127 million is allocated for the Gronau-Epe storage site. The remaining €492 million is designated for the Lingen electrolyzers.

Storage Role in Hydrogen Supply Stability

Hydrogen storage is essential for managing intermittent production from wind and solar sources. According to RWE, “Storage facilities help to buffer fluctuations in hydrogen production from wind and solar energy. This will enable hydrogen produced in the future to be made available to industrial customers as needed.”

Market-Driven Tender Design

RGSW conducted a market survey in spring 2025 to identify customer requirements for hydrogen storage. Feedback from this process has been used to shape the structure and terms of the current tender. The company’s integrated approach—linking generation, transport, and storage—aims to support industrial users seeking reliable hydrogen supply from 2027 onward.