RWE has begun commissioning a renewable hydrogen production facility in Lingen, Germany, which it describes as Europe’s largest operating green hydrogen plant. The first stage is a 100-MW electrolyzer within the 300-MW GET H2 Nukleus project. RWE said the initial capacity is being prepared for commercial operation in 2026, with the full 300 MW targeted for 2027. Hydrogen from Lingen is planned to reach TotalEnergies’ Leuna refinery through a roughly 600-km new pipeline linked to Germany’s developing core hydrogen grid.
The project underpins a long-term supply agreement RWE signed with TotalEnergies earlier in 2025 to deliver 30,000 metric tons a year of green hydrogen to Leuna starting in 2030. RWE has said the pipeline route is intended to replace fossil-derived hydrogen used in refinery processes. To support reliable deliveries during periods of low wind and solar output, the company plans to use booked capacity at the Gronau-Epe hydrogen storage site, expected to enter service in 2027. For Lingen, RWE ordered two 100-MW proton-exchange-membrane units from Linde and ITM Power and a third 100-MW alkaline electrolyzer from Sunfire. Similar electrolyzers are under construction. S&P Global Commodity Insights reported Platts’ assessed EU-compliant German green hydrogen production cost at €7.54/kg on Dec. 19.
Why it matters
The commissioning signals progress toward large-scale hydrogen supply tied to Germany’s planned backbone network, influencing refinery decarbonization timelines and investment economics.
Source Attribution
Source: S&P Global | Adapted & summarized
Published on: 22 December 2025
Category: Energy
Region: Europe
