With the "CHC Electrolysis JadeWeser" project, EWE AG from Oldenburg and the Austrian Verbund AG aim to establish one of the largest hydrogen sites in Europe in Nordenham, Lower Saxony. The project will be carried out by an independent project company, into which the two subsidiaries EWE Hydrogen GmbH and Verbund Green Hydrogen GmbH will contribute their expertise. According to the companies, the partners already have hydrogen projects with a capacity of around 400 megawatts, which are either being implemented or are in operation.
Electrolyser with up to 500 megawatts planned
The core of the project is an electrolyser with a capacity of up to 500 megawatts. The planned production capacity is around 50,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. The plant is to be connected to the future hydrogen core network. According to the project partners, it could provide green hydrogen for industry, mobility, and the energy sector from 2032.
The chosen location in the southern urban area of Nordenham is said to offer special infrastructural advantages according to EWE and Verbund. The areas are secured in the long term. A 380 kV grid connection with expansion potential up to the gigawatt range is located nearby. In addition, there is secured water availability and existing industrial infrastructure. According to the companies, the project is being developed next to a former nuclear power plant.
Access to cavern storage as a strategic advantage
A decisive advantage of the location, from the partners' perspective, is access to hydrogen cavern storage or the immediate proximity to corresponding storage infrastructures. This allows hydrogen to be stored flexibly and provided as needed. The project is also expected to be integrated into future European hydrogen corridors.
"With the joint venture, we are laying the foundation for the implementation of one of the most strategically important hydrogen projects in northern Germany. However, regulatory adjustments are still necessary for a successful market ramp-up, such as the EU's RFNBO requirements. In addition, strong partnerships are needed. VERBUND and EWE have gained diverse experience in large-scale hydrogen projects in recent years, which we are now combining," says Stefan Dohler, CEO of EWE AG. The RFNBO requirements (Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin) regulate at the EU level under which conditions hydrogen is recognized as renewable.
Partners demand adjustments to the framework conditions
Michael Strugl, CEO of Verbund AG, emphasizes the European dimension of the project: "The energy transition needs powerful European partnerships. With the joint venture, we are pooling the strengths of two established energy companies and creating the conditions for a secure and competitive supply of green hydrogen."
Tobias Moldenhauer, Managing Director of EWE Hydrogen GmbH, points to the importance of reliable framework conditions for projects with long development and investment cycles. These include, in particular, electricity procurement costs and additional burdens from RFNBO requirements, grid fees, and indirect emission costs. At the same time, incentives are needed for the competitive use of hydrogen in industry, such as instruments to compensate for differential costs.
Jost Ahrens, Managing Director of Verbund Green Hydrogen GmbH, highlights the location of the project: "With the JadeWeser project, one of the best-positioned hydrogen projects in Europe in terms of infrastructure is being created. The location symbolizes the energy-economic transformation in Europe: An industrial hub for the production of green hydrogen is being developed next to a former nuclear power plant."
EWE, based in Oldenburg, employs around 11,200 people and, according to its own information, achieved a turnover of 8.1 billion euros in 2025. The company is predominantly municipally owned. Verbund is Austria's leading energy company and one of the largest electricity producers from hydropower in Europe. According to its own information, the company generates around 95 percent of its electricity from renewable energies. The Republic of Austria holds 51 percent of the share capital.
