Industrial gases company Linde has received €4.3 million ($4.7 million) to build a 5MW alkaline electrolysis plant in Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt, expanding the region’s hydrogen network. The new facility will add to Linde’s existing 24MW plant and is expected to start operations by the end of 2026, reports FCW.
Once running, the plant will produce around 450 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, which will be supplied to nearby industrial customers through a pipeline. The project is backed by Saxony-Anhalt’s “FUTURE ENERGY” programme and the European Union’s Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The funding commitment was officially presented on August 13 by Saxony-Anhalt’s Economics Minister, Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann, who handed over the approval notice to Joachim Heider, Sales Director for Linde’s Germany North operations.
Willingmann described the investment as a cornerstone of the state’s hydrogen strategy: “Saxony-Anhalt is moving fast with green hydrogen. Here in Leuna, the foundation for Germany’s industrial future is being laid.”
At the same time, he expressed concern about federal policy, warning that cuts in national hydrogen support programmes could undermine progress. “Those who slow down the hydrogen ramp-up today risk industrial setbacks tomorrow. The cuts in funding programs for green hydrogen announced by the federal government are poison for the future of Germany as an industrial location,” he said.
Powered by renewable electricity, Linde’s new facility is expected to prevent more than 4,500 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. The project will also raise Saxony-Anhalt’s total green hydrogen electrolysis capacity to 60MW, strengthening its role as a key hub in Germany’s energy transition.
