According to their own statements, the Stadtwerke Stuttgart (SWS) have cleared the last approval hurdle for the construction of their hydrogen production facility in the Stuttgart port. The Office for Environmental Protection of the state capital Stuttgart has approved the construction in the updated version. According to SWS, this now provides planning security for the Green Hydrogen Hub Stuttgart project.
New Electrolyser Supplier Made Amendment Application Necessary
A renewed approval became necessary because the SWS changed the supplier of the electrolysers during the project. For this, they had to submit an amendment application. In the meantime, the responsibility also changed: With the new version of the Baden-Württemberg Immission Control Responsibility Ordinance (ImSchZuVO BW) in December 2025, the responsibility for the approval process was transferred from the Stuttgart Regional Council to the Office for Environmental Protection of the state capital Stuttgart. After reviewing the documents, the authority granted approval.
Part of a Regional Hydrogen System
With the Green Hydrogen Hub Stuttgart production facility and the associated hydrogen pipeline H2 GeNeSiS, the SWS and their partners aim to build a comprehensive system for the hydrogen supply of the region, according to their own statements. The project includes the production, logistics, and distribution of green hydrogen. The project is supported by the Verband Region Stuttgart, the state of Baden-Württemberg, and the European Union.
Voices from Stadtwerke and City Administration
“Fortunately, we now have planning security, which further advances our hydrogen project. The approval is an important contribution to the development of the hydrogen infrastructure and the further development of a sustainable energy supply in the Stuttgart region,” says Peter Drausnigg, Technical Managing Director of Stadtwerke Stuttgart.
The Stuttgart Mayor for Urban Development, Housing, and Environment, Peter Pätzold, also views the decision positively: “The approval is an important signal – for the energy transition and for the cooperation between the city and the Stadtwerke. Hydrogen is a complex technology, so we are pleased to have a competent partner in Stadtwerke Stuttgart by our side.”
With the approval now granted, the project can move into the next phase. The Stadtwerke did not provide any information on the schedule or capacity of the facility in the announcement.
