Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISEA consortium of research institutions, universities, and industry has analyzed suitable electrolyzer locations in Germany. The freely accessible Hydrogen Potential Atlas has been available since May 2025. The online atlas identifies and evaluates suitable locations for the production of green hydrogen through electrolysis and its use in various industrial sectors and in transportation. In this way, “PoWerD” supports companies in their search for the optimal location for electrolyzers and provides project developers for hydrogen plants with a simple planning tool.
Atlas for Suitable Electrolyzer Locations in Germany
PoWerD
The Hydrogen Atlas shows spatially resolved suitable locations for the production and use of hydrogen and its co-products oxygen and heat.
Initial Situation
Hydrogen is a key component for the comprehensive coupling of the electricity, heating, transport, and industry sectors. As an easily transportable chemical energy carrier, it contributes to stabilizing the power grid and replaces fossil fuels and chemicals. Electrolysis is thus becoming a key technology in the energy transition, which is why the EU hydrogen strategy aims to install electrolysers with a capacity of at least 40 gigawatts by 2030.
But where does the use of electrolysers make particular sense in Germany? The right location is of central importance when expanding power-to-hydrogen plants, as local conditions have a strong impact on their economic and ecological potential. For example, the availability of low-cost green electricity, the customer structure for purchasing the hydrogen produced, and the usability of additional by-products generated during hydrogen production are important decision-making criteria.
Objective
The overarching goal of the project was to visualize suitable electrolyzer locations across the country, distinguishing between economic and business perspectives and utilizing by-products from electrolysis (oxygen and waste heat).
Approach
In “PoWerD”, local conditions were examined with regard to optimizing the location of electrolysers, taking the following aspects into account:
- Availability of renewable energies
- Potential hydrogen demand, particularly in industry (e.g., chemical and steel industries) and transport (e.g., buses and trains)
- Current and future hydrogen infrastructure
- Electricity grid relief
- Use of co-products (heat for industrial processes and oxygen for sewage treatment plant operators)
Results
The atlas contains representations in the form of maps (web atlas) that show the potential for constructing power-to-hydrogen plants in different scenarios and business models. These maps can be freely accessed on the internet by companies (e.g., future electrolyzer operators and constructors) to identify suitable plant locations.
Through targeted and optimized site selection, the project thus contributed significantly to improving the economic efficiency of hydrogen production plants.
Funding
The "PoWerD" project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
