NEA Group to supply diaphragm compressors for hydrogen complex

Diaphragm compressors from NEA Group will be adapted to the respective application. In the first project phase, two compressors each will be installed for pipeline feeding and trailer filling. (Photo: NEA Group.)

Germany’s ENERTRAG will produce green hydrogen starting in 2024 from its Osterweddingen industrial park using electricity from renewable sources.

The park, near Magdeburg, Germany, will be constructed under the supervision of STREICHER Anlagenbau, a project manager from Gommern. STREICHER is also responsible for the piping, storage and system completion tasks in the project. STREICHER and NEUMAN & ESSER will supply compressors to store and utilize the hydrogen from the industrial park.

A total of eight diaphragm compressors (4+4, in two project phases) will compress the hydrogen for various applications. Four compressors will compress 90 kg of hydrogen per hour to 121 bar for injection into the natural gas grid and another four will compress 45 kg per hour to 501 bar for trailer filling, the companies said.

“Both the single-stage feed and the two-stage filling compressors are diaphragm compressors of the NEUMAN & ESSER brand Andreas Hofer Hochdrucktechnik and use the same proven compressor crankcase size. The diaphragm heads are of course adapted to the respective application. In the first project phase, two compressors each will be installed for pipeline feeding and trailer filling,” said Guido Harsch, area sales manager at NEUMAN & ESSER.

In the first stage of expansion, the companies will produce around two tons of green hydrogen per day using a 10 MW PEM electrolyzer. The electrolyzer is to be operated in a system-serving manner to compensate for fluctuations in the generation of electricity from wind and sun and thus relieve the power grid.

The green hydrogen produced will be used to decarbonize heavy industry, as a fuel for long-haul transportation, to generate electricity during a lull in solar or wind production and as feed for hydrogen pipelines. At a later date, there is the possibility of expanding the electrolysis site, the companies announced.

In addition, hydrogen will be fed into Germany’s ONTRAS’ 100% hydrogen pipelines in the medium term.

“ENERTRAG is very proud to accomplish this project, at this great location in the middle of Germany, with many possibilities of deployment, both in industry and in the mobility sector. With this reference plant, we will produce hydrogen from renewable energies on an industrial scale,” said Manuela Blaicher, head of PtX project development at ENERTRAG SE.

“This project represents for us another important milestone in the right direction of the energy transition,” said Sandra Moder, managing director of STREICHER Anlagenbau.

In addition to direct use of the hydrogen produced in the electrolysis process by local consumers, the gas will be further compressed for transport and storage.

ENERTRAG is one of the largest renewable-energy companies in Germany, and the largest in Brandenburg. The company builds, owns and operates integrated energy plants that produce electricity, green hydrogen and heat from wind and solar sources. The company has a total capacity of 2 GW and raised more than €2 billion of debt and equity.

For more than 50 years, STREICHER Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG has been designing and constructing/erecting complex and innovative technical solutions for the energy sector.

NEUMAN & ESSER (NEA GROUP) makes reciprocating and high-pressure diaphragm compressors, as well as sealing elements for oscillating and rotating systems. The company’s products are used in all major applications in the oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical, food and beverage, circular economy, renewable energy and hydrogen industries.