tesa and EWE sign supply agreement: renewable hydrogen for the tesa plant in Hamburg from 2028


  • Transformation in action: Two H₂-ready steam boilers and a connection to the hydrogen core network (HH-WIN) are preparing the tesa plant in Hamburg for the use of green hydrogen
  • Planned emissions reduction: From 2028, the use of hydrogen is expected to avoid around 6,000 metric tons of CO₂e annually
  • Supply from Emden: From 2028, EWE will supply hydrogen from its planned 320-megawatt production facility

Hamburg – tesa, an international manufacturer of innovative adhesive tapes and self-adhesive product solutions, and energy producer and distributor EWE today signed an agreement in Hamburg for the annual supply of 500 metric tons of green hydrogen. The agreement between EWE HYDROGEN GmbH and tesa Werk Hamburg GmbH was signed by EWE CEO Stefan Dohler and tesa CEO Dr. Kourosh Bahrami. From 2028, EWE will cover the planned annual hydrogen demand of the tesa plant in Hamburg. The hydrogen will be used there to generate steam and replace fossil fuels. At the same time, the transition strengthens the future viability of the Hamburg plant and supports tesa in continuing to reliably supply customers with high-performance adhesive solutions.

Industrial application at the tesa plant in Hamburg

The Hamburg plant has the highest energy consumption and emissions within tesa’s production network. A significant share of the process heat used to manufacture adhesive tapes is currently generated using fossil fuels. The transformation concept combines electrification, hydrogen, thermal energy storage, and AI-assisted control. The “Energy Intelligence” platform links data from energy infrastructure, production, and energy markets to optimize energy use proactively and implement the results automatically. This enables tesa to use energy more flexibly and efficiently, reduce emissions, and strengthen production reliability at the same time. In the future, hydrogen will replace fossil fuels wherever heat and steam supply cannot be fully electrified.

“We want to gradually transition our production toward climate neutrality by 2030 and are creating the technical conditions required at our Hamburg plant. Green hydrogen complements electrification, thermal energy storage, and intelligent energy management wherever process heat cannot be fully electrified. In this way, we combine measurable CO₂ reductions with reliable, future-ready production for our customers. The agreement with EWE is therefore not only an important step toward our climate targets, but also toward the site’s long-term competitiveness,” says Dr. Kourosh Bahrami, CEO of tesa SE.

EWE covers key parts of the hydrogen value chain – from production and transport to storage and supply to industrial customers. As part of the IPCEI major project “Clean Hydrogen Coastline,” a hydrogen infrastructure is being developed in northwestern Germany with support from the German federal government and the state of Lower Saxony. The green hydrogen intended for tesa is to be produced at EWE’s 320-megawatt hydrogen production facility in Emden. The facility is scheduled to begin operations at the end of 2027. From there, the hydrogen is to be transported to Hamburg via the emerging hydrogen core network.

EWE CEO Stefan Dohler: “Following Salzgitter, tesa is another renowned industrial customer choosing green hydrogen from EWE. This shows that supply and demand can come together, even though the market is still in its infancy. Today, tesa and EWE are making binding decisions for a more climate-friendly energy supply of tomorrow. To turn individual pioneering projects into a competitive market, we need reliable and practical political and regulatory frameworks.”

500 metric tons to cover planned hydrogen demand

Starting in January 2028, tesa plans to use around 500 metric tons of hydrogen annually for steam generation, covering 100 percent of the Hamburg plant’s planned hydrogen demand. EWE intends to produce the hydrogen at its 320 MW hydrogen production facility currently under construction in Emden, using electrolysis powered by electricity from renewable sources. It will meet the European requirements for renewable hydrogen (RFNBO). The use of hydrogen is expected to reduce emissions by around 6,000 metric tons of CO₂e per year. Two H₂-ready dual-fuel steam boilers provide the technical foundation; the first has already been installed and connected. The transformation is supported by a Climate Protection Contract from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and local funding from IFB Hamburg.

tesa advances transformation at sites worldwide

As a multinational company operating in more than 100 countries and running plants in Germany, Italy, China, the USA, and Vietnam, tesa is continuously working to decarbonize its production sites. By 2030, the company is investing around €300 million in the transformation of its business. The investments are intended to reduce emissions while strengthening the technological foundation, resilience, and competitiveness of tesa’s production sites. tesa is focusing on solvent-free production, efficiency improvements, and advanced technologies. Compared with the 2018 baseline, tesa has reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 50 percent. Ninety-five percent of its global electricity demand is covered by electricity from renewable sources. In recognition of its sustainability and climate management, tesa received an A rating from CDP for the third consecutive year and an EcoVadis Gold Medal for the fourth consecutive year in 2026.

Further information is available in the tesa press section.

Facts and figures at a glance

  • Contracting parties: EWE HYDROGEN GmbH and tesa Werk Hamburg GmbH
  • Supply volume: 500 metric tons of hydrogen from renewable sources per year
  • Coverage: 100 percent of the tesa plant in Hamburg’s planned annual hydrogen demand
  • Start of supply: from 2028
  • Production: EWE’s 320-megawatt hydrogen production facility in Emden
  • Application: steam generation at the tesa plant in Hamburg
  • Grid connection: connection to the hydrogen core network via HH-WIN
  • H₂ connection capacity: 25 MW
  • Technology: two H₂-ready dual-fuel steam boilers

About tesa SE


As a multinational company, tesa develops innovative adhesive tapes and self-adhesive product solutions for various industries, commercial customers, and end consumers for 130 years. There are already more than 7,000 tesa adhesive solutions that help improve the work, products or lives of our customers. Today, the focus is on sustainability and energy-saving processes. tesa invests in the development of products with sustainable contribution and solvent-free manufacturing processes as well as in the use of renewable energy sources at its locations.

tesa is active in 100 countries and operates plants in Germany, Italy, China, the USA, and in Vietnam. Around three quarters of the tesa Group’s sales (2025: EUR 1.7 billion euro) are generated by applications for industries. Together with its international clients, tesa develops innovations that are customized at product and process level. Already more than 130 tesa tapes may be installed in an electric car and over 70 in a smartphone. In the printing and construction industries, too, tesa is constantly penetrating new segments and countries with its special adhesive tapes. The company generates almost one quarter of its sales with products for end consumers and professional craftsmen. 300 applications, such as the legendary tesafilm®, make life easier or, when it comes to insect protection, even make it a bit more pleasant. tesa counts among the world’s leading manufacturers of adhesive solutions. Since 2001, tesa SE is an independent 100% affiliate of Beiersdorf AG (i.e., NIVEA, Eucerin, la prairie) with approx. 5,400 employees today.

About EWE:

As an innovative service provider, EWE operates in the fields of energy, telecommunications, and information technology. With around 11,200 employees and revenue of €8.1 billion in 2025, EWE is one of Germany’s major energy companies. Headquartered in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, the company is predominantly municipally owned. It supplies around 1.4 million customers with energy and 0.8 million with telecommunications services in northwestern Germany, Brandenburg, and the island of Rügen. EWE plays a pioneering role in security of supply, climate protection, and digital participation. In the coming years, the Group is therefore investing in expanding electricity grids and fiber-optic infrastructure, constructing new wind farms, and leading the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure. For more information, visit www.ewe.com (opens in a new window or tab).

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Last updated on Oct 6, 2026