Plug Powers Europe’s Hydrogen Future with First Deliveries to Gasunie’s H2CAST Salt Cavern in Germany

Renewable hydrogen from Plug’s Werlte facility is now supporting one of Europe’s most advanced underground storage projects

Plug is proud to announce its role in a major step forward for Europe’s hydrogen economy: delivering renewable hydrogen to the H2CAST Etzel project—Germany’s leading pilot for large-scale underground hydrogen storage. 

Located in Lower Saxony and a consortium led by partners Gasunie and STORAG ETZEL, the H2CAST (Hydrogen Cavern Storage Transition) initiative is repurposing two existing salt caverns into storage vessels for renewable hydrogen. The goal? To prove that salt caverns can offer safe, scalable, and flexible hydrogen storage for Europe’s future energy system.

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Plug’s Contribution: Renewable Hydrogen Deliveries Underway

Under a contract awarded by Gasunie, Plug is supplying approximately 45 metric tons of renewable hydrogen between April and August 2025. Deliveries began last month from Hy2gen electrolyzer facility in Werlte, Germany—ranging from one to two trailer loads per day.

Plug’s hydrogen is produced using electrolysis powered by grid electricity, with most trailer filling scheduled during midday hours when Germany’s renewable energy supply peaks. This timing helps minimize carbon intensity and supports the country’s clean energy transition.

Supporting Europe’s Energy Security and Decarbonization Goals

“Hydrogen storage will play a central role in stabilizing Europe’s energy system and ensuring long-term energy security,” said Benjamin Haycraft, Vice President at Plug. “We’re honored to support Gasunie in demonstrating this critical technology and enabling a low-carbon, resilient future.”

Eddy Kuperus, Project Lead H2CAST at Gasunie, added: “We are pleased to have found a reliable partner in Plug to supply the required hydrogen volumes from their nearby electrolyzer plant. This is a key enabler for the next steps in our H2CAST pilot project.”

A Blueprint for Scalable Hydrogen Storage

Co-funded by the German federal government and the state of Lower Saxony, the H2CAST Etzel project is one of the most advanced hydrogen storage demonstrations in Europe. In addition to testing the storage process itself, the pilot will study hydrogen quality treatment and performance inside repurposed caverns—generating data essential for industrial-scale deployment.

Project results are expected to be published in 2026 and will help shape Europe’s approach to building long-duration, renewable hydrogen storage to support both industrial applications and long-term energy resilience.

Plug Delivers More Than Hydrogen—We Deliver Progress

As Europe accelerates toward its clean energy goals, Plug’s hydrogen ecosystem—from production to delivery—continues to support real-world applications and pioneering infrastructure projects. H2CAST is another example of Plug doing real things to power a more secure, sustainable, and energy-resilient future—demonstrating how hydrogen infrastructure can reduce dependence on volatile energy sources.