RWE has taken a significant step towards Germany’s energy transition with the commissioning of a 14 MW pilot electrolyser plant in Lingen. The event, attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck, Lower Saxony’s Minister President Stephan Weil, and Lower Saxony’s Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Protection, marks a major milestone in the development of green hydrogen production in Germany.
A Leap Forward for Green Hydrogen
The new facility, located at RWE’s Emsland gas-fired power plant, boasts a capacity to generate up to 270 kilograms of green hydrogen per hour using renewable energy sources. This pilot plant is equipped with two distinct electrolysis technologies: an alkaline electrolyser from Sunfire with a capacity of 10 MW, and a 4 MW plant using a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser from ITM Power, designed and built by Linde.
The facility will provide critical insights into the development of future industrial-scale hydrogen plants. RWE’s CEO Markus Krebber highlighted the strategic importance of Lingen in the German energy transition, noting that the site is set to expand its green hydrogen production capabilities in the coming years. “Lingen is one of the most exciting locations of the German energy transition. Over the coming years, we will expand our production capacities for green hydrogen at this site further to supply industrial consumers with green molecules and thus support them in their decarbonisation efforts,” said Krebber.
Federal and State Support for Hydrogen Innovation
The pilot electrolyser plant is part of a broader initiative to establish a hydrogen economy in Germany, supported by significant funding from both the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony. The Lower Saxony Ministry for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Protection provided eight million euros for the pilot project. Additionally, RWE has secured over 490 million euros in federal and state funding for the construction of a 300 MW electrolyser plant as part of the GET H2 Nukleus project, which is expected to be operational by 2025 and expanded to 300 MW by 2027.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck emphasized the importance of hydrogen in Germany’s energy transition, stating, “By supporting hydrogen along the entire value chain, we are taking an important step towards a climate-neutral and sustainable economy in Germany.” He added that the green hydrogen produced in Lingen would be crucial for decarbonizing both the industry and energy sectors.
Lower Saxony: A Hydrogen Hub in the Making
Lower Saxony’s Minister President Stephan Weil underscored the state’s leadership in green hydrogen production, noting that 50 percent of Germany’s green hydrogen, as recently approved by the EU, will come from Lower Saxony. “Lower Saxony is to become a hub for producing, importing, storing, transporting, and using hydrogen,” said Weil. He also stressed the importance of growing industrial demand for hydrogen and optimizing the use of electricity from renewable sources to prevent congestion on the electricity grids.
A Vision for a Hydrogen-Powered Future
The pilot plant at Lingen is not only a testing ground for future large-scale hydrogen production but also a catalyst for the broader hydrogen economy in Germany. The hydrogen produced initially will be added to the fuel for the power plant’s unit D gas turbine as part of a comprehensive test program. Starting mid-2025, it will also be used to fuel hydrogen-powered vehicles, with construction already underway for a hydrogen filling station and trailer filling facility at the site.
RWE’s involvement in the GET H2 initiative aims to create the first publicly accessible hydrogen infrastructure in Germany. The GET H2 Nukleus project will connect the green hydrogen production facilities in Lingen with industrial consumers in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia through a 130 km grid. This grid will become the first hydrogen network in the regulated sector, offering transparent pricing and non-discriminatory access, significantly accelerating the development of the hydrogen economy.
About RWE
RWE is a leading global player in the energy sector, driving the transformation towards a sustainable future through innovative technologies and strategic partnerships. With a focus on renewable energy, RWE is committed to supporting the decarbonization of the industrial and energy sectors, contributing to a climate-neutral and resilient economy.
Source RWE