BP and RWE plan Germany’s first green hydrogen grid.

The 130-km-grid is slated to be completed in late 2022 to provide chemical and refinery clients with hydrogen.

Oil major BP, German utility RWE, chemicals producer Evonik and gas grid operators have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of Germany’s first network connecting producers of green hydrogen with industrial customers.

The 130-kilometre grid (dubbed 'GET H2 Nukleus') from Lingen in Lower Saxony state to chemical and refinery clients in Lingen itself, and in Gelsenkirchen, North-Rhine-Westphalia state, is planned to transport first green hydrogen at the end of 2022.

Green hydrogen is produced via a process of electrolysis, using electricity from renewable energy sources.

RWE’s generation unit plans to feed a 100MW electrolyser in Lingen with renewable energy produced in the region.

For the network, existing gas pipelines from operators Nowega and OGE are slated to be converted to transport 100% hydrogen, while Evonik will add a part of new pipelines.

The hydrogen grid is planned to be open to other companies as well.

"The production of green hydrogen and the supply to customers should start by the end of 2022 if possible, provided that this is economical and the political framework is correct until then," RWE said.

17 March 2020

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