German energy company RWE has commenced green hydrogen production at its 14 MW pilot electrolyzer plant in Lingen, Germany.
This facility is capable of producing up to 270 kilograms of green hydrogen per hour using renewable electricity. It employs two types of electrolysis technologies: an alkaline electrolyzer from Sunfire and a PEM electrolyzer from ITM Power, both installed by Linde Engineering.
RWE stated that the pilot plant will offer valuable insights for the development of future industrial-scale hydrogen facilities. They also mentioned that a large commercial electrolyzer plant is already under construction nearby. As part of the GET H2 Nukleus project, a 100 MW electrolyzer is expected to be operational by 2025, with plans to expand its capacity to 300 MW by 2027.
The Lower Saxony Ministry for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Protection provided €8 million in funding for this pilot electrolyzer.
Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE, remarked: “Lingen is a key site in the German energy transition. Alongside our flexible gas-fired power plant and advanced large-scale battery system, we are now producing green hydrogen here.”
He added, “In the coming years, we will further increase our green hydrogen production capacities at this site to provide industrial consumers with green molecules and support their decarbonization efforts. The hydrogen economy is highly complex, involving core grid development, import strategies, domestic production, and storage facilities. We are beginning to see parts of this vision come to life.”
Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, said: “Supporting hydrogen throughout its value chain is a crucial step towards achieving a climate-neutral and sustainable economy in Germany. I am confident that electrolysers like the one in Lingen will significantly contribute to a successful energy transition. The green hydrogen produced here will be essential for decarbonizing Germany’s industry and energy sector.”
Additionally, RWE is participating in the GET H2 initiative, which aims to build the first publicly accessible hydrogen infrastructure in Germany. This initiative seeks to accelerate the growth of the hydrogen economy and assist companies in the industrial and mobility sectors in meeting their climate targets.
At the beginning of 2023, RWE ordered two 100 MW PEM electrolyzers from Linde Engineering for the GET H2 hydrogen project. These plants will be powered by offshore wind from the North Sea.
In July 2024, the German federal and state governments allocated €818 million in funding for RWE’s major hydrogen projects, with €619 million designated for the construction of a 300 MW electrolyzer in Lingen for green hydrogen production.
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