The initiative "Klimahafen Gelsenkirchen" (climate port) involves 17 companies working to develop a blueprint for the climate-neutral transformation of an entire industrial and logistics area. To decarbonize their process heat, these energy-intensive businesses aim for a rapid connection to a pipeline-based supply of green hydrogen.

Launched in mid-2021 by companies from the Gelsenkirchen Stadthafen (port of Gelsenkirchen) and surrounding areas, with support from the Municipality of Gelsenkirchen, Science Park Gelsenkirchen, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) North Westphalia, the initiative now includes 17 companies from diverse industries. Their shared goal is a swift transformation to climate neutrality through their own actions and, where necessary, collective efforts to create suitable framework conditions.

A pilot project focuses on the decarbonization of process heat in energy-intensive operations. With an annual heat demand exceeding 500,000 megawatt-hours (MWh), the Climate Port hosts an energy-intensive heat cluster that serves as a prototype for the industrial SME sector. To decarbonize process heat, the initiative calls for a connection to the future Hydrogen Backbone and is in talks with network operators and potential suppliers. Additionally, the initiative is working with several energy sector stakeholders to assess the technical and economic feasibility of building a large electrolyzer for local hydrogen production near the Climate Port.

In the mobility sector, the initiative is currently analyzing the demand and feasibility of a hydrogen fueling station for trucks. A fueling station project has already been submitted via one of the initiative's partners as part of the Rhein-Ruhr region's HyPerformer application.

Beyond the two pilot projects, the initiative also addresses other climate protection and adaptation topics such as photovoltaic systems, e-mobility, building envelopes, and resource efficiency. The overarching aim is to take a holistic approach to the development sparked by hydrogen and carry it forward comprehensively.

Further information about the "Initiative Klimahafen" initiative can be found at www.klimahafen-gelsenkirchen.de.