Wilo sets new milestone in sustainable energy transition with H2Powerplant

Green hydrogen is rapidly emerging as a leading energy solution for the future, and Wilo is at the forefront of this eco-friendly revolution with its groundbreaking H2Powerplant. This pioneering live production facility represents a world-first in harnessing green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source.

Unlike any other green hydrogen solution on the market, the H2Powerplant demonstrates the concept of power independence and decentralised generation. Currently operational at Wilo's headquarters, Wilopark, in Dortmund, Germany, this innovative facility marks a significant step towards accelerating green hydrogen production. Presently, only a mere 1% of the world's hydrogen is classified as 'green' according to IRENA.

With successful operations at its German headquarters, Wilo plans to extend the H2Powerplant to all its locations and offer a modular version that can cater to different power demands. The product comes in four sizes capable of generating power equivalent to the annual demand of three, five, or 20 households.

The H2Powerplant utilises electrolysis to convert renewable energy sourced from solar, wind, and hydropower into green hydrogen. The hydrogen can then be converted back into electrical energy using a fuel cell whenever required. Additionally, waste heat is either utilised within the interconnected system for heating, stored, or converted into cooling on-site.

Furthermore, this system can integrate seamlessly with new and existing combined heat and power (CHP) systems designed to work with a blended hydrogen mix, making it a promising candidate for retrofit applications.

Dave Williamson, Sales and Marketing Director at Wilo UK, emphasised the significance of green hydrogen in achieving climate protection goals. He noted that this groundbreaking technology would enable companies to transition to clean energy seamlessly without starting from scratch. Existing infrastructure, such as gas or CHP systems, can benefit from the H2Powerplant by utilising hydrogen from it and thereby reducing carbon emissions.

Since its first pilot project approval in May 2022, where Wilo collaborated with various industry partners to design and build the initial functional system at Wilopark, the H2Powerplant's potential has continued to expand. Initially intended as an emergency power supply, the project evolved to provide power for multiple applications on-site, including lighting, EV charging, and heating.

The construction of the H2Powerplant commenced in July 2022, and the system was successfully commissioned and inaugurated on 9 September 2022. The grand opening took place during an international industry conference at Wilopark in Dortmund, marking a remarkable milestone in the sustainable energy transition led by Wilo and its cutting-edge H2Powerplant.