Uniper – Darmstadt Authority issues preliminary approval for the planned hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plant at the Staudinger power station
- Darmstadt Regional Authority issues preliminary approval for the planned hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plant (Unit 8) at the Staudinger power station
- Key questions regarding feasibility and permissibility resolved early and with binding effect
- First partial permit application planned for Q3 2026
- Project to be entered into auctions under the draft legislation on securing electricity supply reliability and providing new capacity (Strom VKG)
Großkrotzenburg. With today’s issuance of the preliminary approval by district president Prof. Dr. Jan Hilligardt, head of the Darmstadt Regional Authority (Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt), the permitting process for the planned Unit 8 at the Staudinger site has reached an important milestone.
The new hydrogen-ready combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant, with a planned electrical feed-in capacity of up to 890 megawatts, is designed to secure the Grosskrotzenburg power station’s long-term role as a key energy hub in the Rhine-Main region. At the same time, it will contribute flexible, dispatchable generation capacity that Germany’s power system needs for a successful energy transition. With this project, Uniper plans to participate in the auctions envisioned under the Strom VKG.
During the preliminary approval process, Uniper worked with the Darmstadt Regional Authority to resolve key questions regarding the project’s feasibility and permissibility at an early stage and with binding effect. The purpose of this procedural step is to minimize project risks as early as possible – before the formal permitting process is initiated.
The process placed significant demands on all parties involved. Key areas of focus included strict air pollutant emission requirements as well as complex issues related to habitat (FFH) and species protection. In addition, there were challenging requirements arising from the local zoning plan. The process was coordinated in close collaboration with technology partner Siemens Energy.
Andreas Armenat, Head of the Staudinger Power Plant at Uniper, said:
The preliminary approval for Staudinger 8 is a milestone for the development of this site and the result of intensive and constructive collaboration with the Darmstadt Regional Authority.
”We navigated a demanding process – involving complex issues, numerous stakeholders, and around 150 application documents. The fact that we have now resolved these questions early and with binding effect gives us the planning certainty that a project of this scale requires. Staudinger is a site with a future and today is an important step in that direction.
Prof. Dr. Jan Hilligardt, Regional President, said:
With the preliminary approval from the Darmstadt Regional Authority, Uniper Kraftwerke GmbH has gained planning certainty for its major project.
Key issues have been clarified in advance. This saves the company additional work and enables it to proceed with targeted planning for the formal permit application.
Following the completion of the preliminary approval process, Uniper is now focusing on the next steps: The first partial permit – covering subsurface infrastructure – is expected to be submitted in Q3 2026, with the second partial permit for construction and operation of the plant to follow in Q2 2027.
Uniper is progressively transforming the Staudinger power station into a future-ready energy hub. The focus is on decommissioning conventional plant components that are no longer needed, modernizing existing infrastructure, and preparing for new uses. In addition to Staudinger 8, these include the exploration of battery storage solutions and, in the longer term, the establishment of data centers. This transformation draws on the deep technical expertise and operational experience at the site and is carried out in close coordination with regional stakeholders – with the goal of bringing together energy security, transformation, and long-term prospects for the location.
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Uniper – Darmstadt Authority issues preliminary approval for the planned hydrogen-ready gas-fired power plant at the Staudinger power station, source
