Hoerbiger to supply hydrogen compressors for Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub

The Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub (HGHH) plans to build a new 105-MW hydrogen plant on the site of the former Moorburg coal-fired power plant by 2027. The German company Kraftanlagen Energies & Services has been commissioned to build the infrastructure around the electrolyzer. Kraftanlagen, in turn, has entrusted Hoerbiger with the delivery of three HCP 500 Hydrogen Compressor packages. (Image: Hoerbiger)

Hoerbiger has been selected to supply three HCP 500 hydrogen compressor packages for the Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub (HGHH), a flagship German project that will convert a former coal-fired power plant site into a major renewable hydrogen production center.

The HGHH aims to develop a 105-megawatt electrolyzer plant by 2027 at the former Moorburg power station, producing green hydrogen for industrial and mobility uses across northern Germany. Kraftanlagen Energies & Services, the engineering contractor responsible for the plant’s infrastructure, awarded Hoerbiger the compressor supply contract.

Kraftanlagen, with decades of experience in energy technology and plant engineering, has implemented several hydrogen projects in recent years and selected Hoerbiger for its proven compression expertise and advanced hydrogen technology.

HCP 500 at the core of the project

At the heart of the Hamburg facility will be Hoerbiger’s HCP 500 hydrogen compressor package, designed for high-capacity, low-cost compression in large-scale hydrogen applications such as trailer filling and heavy-duty refueling stations. The turnkey system offers a compact footprint, high reliability, and fast filling capability.

The HCP 500 achieves a hydrogen mass flow rate exceeding 250 kilograms per hour, utilizing Ariel Corporation’s KBH reciprocating compressor. The design enables flexible operation under both continuous and intermittent conditions, making it well suited to applications tied to electrolyzer output and variable renewable energy sources.

The compressor package integrates several of Hoerbiger’s proprietary components, including CP valves, sealing elements, and the company’s Electric Stepless Capacity Control System (eHydroCOM). The eHydroCOM technology provides precise control of compressor flow rates and allows the unit to adjust efficiently to changing operating demands—an important feature for hydrogen infrastructure linked to fluctuating renewable supply.

Supporting Europe’s hydrogen buildout

The Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub is part of Germany’s broader strategy to build a national hydrogen economy and decarbonize heavy industry and transport. Once operational, the facility will supply green hydrogen to industrial customers and serve as a fueling hub for commercial mobility.

For Hoerbiger, the contract marks another milestone in its role supporting the industrialization of hydrogen technologies. With more than 130 years of experience in compression systems, the company is positioning its hydrogen solutions portfolio at the center of Europe’s energy transition.

“Hoerbiger’s HCP 500 technology represents the next generation of efficient, standardized hydrogen compressor packages optimized for performance and reliability,” the company said. “Our systems enable cost-effective operation while supporting large-scale deployment of clean hydrogen.”

Headquartered in Vienna, Hoerbiger operates in 40 countries with 6,477 employees at 130 locations, including 30 production sites. In 2024, the company reported sales of €1.47 billion. Its technologies serve the energy, process, automotive, mechanical engineering, and safety sectors, with an increasing focus