Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 7, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through its Energy Transition Fund (CI ETF I), has acquired a 70% stake in the first phase of Luxembourg-based H2APEX’s hydrogen project in Lubmin, Germany. The agreement marks CIP as a strategic investor in the project and supports the early-stage financing required to access €167 million in funding from the European Union’s Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) program.

As part of this investment, CIP will initially contribute €15 million until the final investment decision (FID) is reached. H2APEX confirmed that both parties intend to co-finance the total project, estimated to be worth several hundred million euros, subject to feasibility and long-term sustainability. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2028.

The Lubmin project aims to produce up to 10,000 tons of hydrogen annually in its first expansion stage, with an expected capacity of 100 MW. Preliminary agreements have already secured offtake for this initial phase. Lubmin was chosen for its strategic location near the Baltic Sea, offering access to offshore wind energy and planned connections to Germany’s hydrogen transmission network.

H2APEX noted that it had previously secured critical infrastructure at the site. The hydrogen generated at Lubmin is expected to be transported to southern Germany through the planned Flow pipeline. The project may also enable integration with other IPCEI-supported developments along the hydrogen value chain.

Preparation for the next phase of construction, scheduled for 2026, will focus on component procurement and ongoing regulatory approvals. In the long term, H2APEX plans to increase total production capacity at the site to over 1,000 MW.

Peter Rößner, CEO of H2APEX, stated: “The strategic partnership with CIP is a milestone both for the development of our own hydrogen production capacities and for the entire H2APEX Group. We are delighted to have brought one of the world’s most financially strong infrastructure funds to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, bringing us a big step closer to the start of construction of our projects in Lubmin. We see this partnership as the perfect symbiosis of a financial investor with in-depth technology and industry expertise and a long-term investment horizon – as is customary for infrastructure investments – and H2APEX as a project developer and portfolio manager covering the entire hydrogen value chain. We are now continuing to work intensively on the further development of our projects so that construction can begin next year.”

Felix Pahl, Partner at CIP, added: “This project is making an important contribution to the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy in Germany. Together with H2APEX, we are developing a project in Lubmin with excellent infrastructure connections and confirmed IPCEI funding. We continue to see great potential in green hydrogen and are committed to long-term investments in scalable, renewable infrastructure. We look forward to working closely with H2APEX and all other partners in the project.”

In a separate development, CIP also secured A$814 million from Australia’s Hydrogen Headstart program for its Murchison Green Hydrogen project, aimed at producing 1.8 million tonnes of green ammonia annually, primarily for export to Asian markets.