Darmstadt Authority Grants Preliminary Approval for Uniper's Hydrogen-Ready Power Plant at Staudinger

The Darmstadt Regional Authority has issued preliminary approval for Uniper's Unit 8 project at the Staudinger power station in Großkrotzenburg, Germany. The hydrogen-ready combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant is designed to provide up to 890 megawatts of electrical feed-in capacity.

The preliminary approval process resolved key feasibility and permissibility questions with binding effect before formal permitting begins. The project navigated complex requirements including strict air pollutant emission standards, habitat protection (FFH) and species protection regulations, and local zoning plan requirements. Siemens Energy served as the technology partner.

Uniper plans to submit the first partial permit application covering subsurface infrastructure in Q3 2026, followed by a second partial permit for plant construction and operation in Q2 2027. The project will be entered into auctions under Germany's draft electricity supply reliability and new capacity legislation (Strom VKG).

The Staudinger power station transformation includes decommissioning conventional components, modernizing existing infrastructure, and exploring new uses such as battery storage and data centers. The plant will provide flexible, dispatchable generation capacity to support Germany's energy transition.

Originally reported by Hydrogen Central. Read the full article →