RWE starts pilot plant for green hydrogen production
RWE, the energy giant, has launched a pilot plant for producing green hydrogen in Lingen, Emsland. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) stated that promoting hydrogen projects is a crucial step towards a climate-neutral and sustainable economy in Germany during the plant's opening on Monday. Lower Saxony's Minister-President Stephan Weil (SPD) praised the "exemplary pioneering work" in Lingen.
The plant, located on the grounds of the Emsland gas power plant, has a capacity of 14 megawatts. Using electricity from renewable sources, it can produce up to 270 kilograms of green hydrogen per hour, according to RWE. The pilot project aims to provide insights that are "crucial for future large-scale plants in industrial dimensions," RWE explained.
The production of green hydrogen on an industrial scale is a "key prerequisite for the successful transformation of our energy supply and industry towards climate neutrality," Weil said. The Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment is funding the plant with eight million euros.
By next year, a "first large" electrolyzer plant with a capacity of 100 megawatts is set to be launched in the immediate vicinity of the now-opened site. This capacity is planned to be tripled by 2027.
Green hydrogen is produced from renewable electricity and thus CO2-neutral. The process, called electrolysis, splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. The product can then be fed into the grid or used directly on-site. However, the production is currently still very expensive.
RWE's pilot plant in Lingen is a significant step in the manufacture of green hydrogen, as the insights gained from this project are essential for future large-scale hydrogen production in industrial settings. The Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment is investing eight million euros in the manufacture of green hydrogen at this plant.
