The Moorburg power station was a 1,600 MW-capacity coal-fired power plant which ceased generation in July 2021, following only 6 years of operation. It closed down as a result of the reverse auction bid, which took place in Germany last year. Vattenfall, the power station's operator, was successful in the auction, and received funding to shut down the coal plant early. The plant will now be repurposed into a green hydrogen facility. 

Technology

In 2021, Vattenfall signed a letter of intent with Shell and Mitsubishi to use the site from the coal power plant to establish a green hydrogen facility, consisting of the construction of an electrolyzer for 100MW capacity. 

The green hydrogen will be produced from solar and wind power, and will be used in the surrounding area.

Approach

• 2015: Moorburg coal power station was built. 

• 2020: German government held a reverse auction to accelerate phase out of coal power plants. 

• 2020: Moorburg coal power plant was one of the auction winners, and Vattenfall planned its closure.

• January 2021: Vattenfall, Mitsubishi and Shell signed a letter of intent to develop the new green hydrogen facility. 

• July 2021: Moorburg coal power plant was closed down.

• 2025: expected operation of the green hydrogen facility, following decommissioning of the power plant.