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kilometres represent the first stage of thepublicly accessible hydrogen network in Germany.
With the GET H2 Nukleus Project, bp, Evonik, Norwega, OGE and RWE Generation are planning to establish the first publicly accessible hydrogen infrastructure in Germany for “green” hydrogen produced in a climate-friendly way. This will involve a 130-kilometre-long network to link the hydrogen production facilities in Lingen (Lower Saxony) with industrial consumers in NRW. The project has emerged from the GET H2 Initiative, which already includes more than 40 companies, municipalities and institutions.
GET H2 sees using existing long-distance gas pipeline networks as key to setting up a nationwide hydrogen economy in Germany. By converting existing natural gas pipelines to carry hydrogen, the fuel could be transported over great distances within the whole of Germany and further afield. The GET H2 Nukleus Project is launching the first stage of this initiative. The focus on so-called “green” hydrogen, produced with electricity from renewable energy sources, is aimed at making a significant contribution to climate neutrality. In refineries and the chemical industry, for instance, it will replace the “grey” hydrogen currently used, the production of which causes considerable CO2 emissions.
“Establishing a hydrogen infrastructure based on the existing gas infrastructure is the most cost-effective approach and guarantees security of supply – both of which are important for industrial consumers.”
Dr Jörg Bergmann, Spokesman of the Board of Management of Open Grid Europe GmbH
Under the GET H2 Nukleus Project, the plan is to produce “green” hydrogen via the “Power-to-Gas” process using an electrolysis plant. For this purpose, an electrolyser with a capacity of over 100 megawatts is to be built at the site of the RWE gas power plant in Lingen. From 2023 onwards, the plant is intended to produce hydrogen using electricity generated by wind turbines. For the first time, a regulated pipeline is envisaged to transport the hydrogen, thereby laying the foundation for a nationwide H2 infrastructure in Germany. The network from Lingen to the bp refinery in Gelsenkirchen will cover a distance of 130 kilometres in total.
“Hydrogen is a ray of hope for the energy transition. That’s why we are committed to this project. If the conditions are right, RWE could start the construction of a 100-MW electrolyser in Lingen as early as 2021. Once finished, it will then be possible to supply the Ruhr Valley with green hydrogen from here.”
Roger Miesen, CEO RWE Generation
As is the case with electricity and natural gas networks, access to this hydrogen network is intended to be available to all manufacturers, retailers or consumers on a non-discriminatory basis. This should allow for the rapid and reliable integration of further hydrogen projects at other sites, thus creating the basis for a hydrogen economy in Germany and also accelerating the development of hydrogen technologies into commercial business models across the entire value chain. Technical adjustments are needed to convert the long-distance network between Lingen and Gelsenkirchen from natural gas to hydrogen: for example, compressing pure hydrogen to the required pipeline pressure or exchanging fittings. Using existing pipelines means that no expensive construction work is needed so conversion offers a considerable cost advantage compared to constructing new pipelines. The plan could also be extended to store hydrogen on a large scale in the existing cavern storage facilities. This would allow a constant supply of hydrogen to consumers at times when power from renewable energy sources is unavailable for longer periods.
"Hydrogen is an important feedstock in refineries, used for the production of fuels, for example. By using green hydrogen in our production, we come a significant step closer to the goal of making our bp operations climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest. The GET H2 Nucleus project lays the foundation for a reliable, sustainable hydrogen economy in Germany and thus helps to further reduce CO2 emissions in our production."
Bernhard Niemeyer-Pilgrim, Member of the Board BP Europa SE
kilometres represent the first stage of thepublicly accessible hydrogen network in Germany.
Using wind or solar power to produce “green” hydrogen will make it possible to store renewable energy in large quantities for a long period of time. By means of the established pipeline, the gas will be transported directly to industrial consumers in NRW, for instance chemical parks and refineries. This “green” hydrogen produced in a climate-friendly way can also be used in sectors where electrification is not viable (buzzword “sector coupling”) and contribute to reducing CO2 emissions there. “Green” hydrogen offers significant potential for reducing carbon emissions in many sectors of industry, both by using it directly as a feedstock and by using it as an energy carrier. The prerequisite for this is that the hydrogen is produced in a climate-friendly manner and the necessary high-capacity transport infrastructure is available to provide industrial consumers with a reliable supply of the commodity.
Lisa Willnauer
Senior Manager Innovation & New Technologies, RWE Generation SE