As part of its “Growing Green” strategy, RWE announced in November that it would build at least 2 gigawatts (GW) of electrolysis capacity for the production of green hydrogen by 2030. With the preselection of the technical supplier for two 100 MW electrolysis plants in Lingen, RWE is now taking an important step in this direction: RWE has signed an agreement with Linde, the world's leading industrial gases and plant construction company, on the approval planning for the project. 

 

Approval planning is part of the preparatory project development. The subsequent detailed planning as well as the procurement and construction of the system are expressly subject to state aid from the Federal Republic of Germany. 

 

The planned 200 MW plant is part of RWE's efforts to build a 300 MW electrolyser at the Lingen site as part of the GET H2 project by 2026. The company plans to increase the total capacity in Lingen to up to 2 GW by 2030. The aim of the GET H2 initiative, together with national and European partners, is to create the critical mass that is necessary for the establishment of a supra-regional European hydrogen infrastructure and the development of a European hydrogen market.

 

In the first phase of the project, the planned system will consist of two 100 MW proton exchange membrane electrolysers (PEM) that will generate green hydrogen using offshore wind power from the North Sea. It is expected that the green hydrogen produced in Lingen will help prevent carbon dioxide emissions to a significant extent. The first 100 MW electrolyser is scheduled to go into operation in 2024 and the second by mid-2025, provided that public funds under the IPCEI mechanism are approved in good time. 

 

“By 2030, RWE wants to create 2 gigawatts of its own electrolysis capacity in order to be able to generate green hydrogen. Of the more than 30 hydrogen projects in which RWE is involved, GET H2 in Lingen concerns the most advanced large-scale plant. The pre-selection of Linde as our technical provider for a significant part of this project is an important milestone on the way to an investment decision. Since the planning of the technical details for the first two electrolysis units is now possible, we can start implementing the project quickly if we have received funding. We look forward to being able to draw on Linde's experience in planning complex technology projects on an industrial scale," said Sopna Sury, COO Hydrogen RWE Generation.

 

RWE is involved in more than 30 projects worldwide at all levels of the hydrogen value chain. The company is one of the world's leading producers of electricity from renewable energies. The company also has expertise in the production and storage of green hydrogen. RWE's energy trade can provide industrial customers with hydrogen as required.