© RWE
RWE has begun commissioning the first 100MW phase of its 300MW GetH2 Nukleus green hydrogen project in Lingen, north-west Germany, marking a major step in the country’s industrial-scale hydrogen rollout.
Positioning within europe’s hydrogen build-out
The project is set to become one of the largest operational renewable hydrogen plants in Europe once the initial phase enters commercial operation between 2026 and 2027, nearly doubling the capacity of the continent’s largest existing facility, according to RWE. BASF’s 54MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer at Ludwigshafen, commissioned in March, currently holds that position.
Project scale and technology mix
GetH2 Nukleus is being developed in three phases to reach 300MW by 2027. The first two 100MW phases use PEM electrolysers supplied by UK-based ITM Power, ordered in 2022, while a third 100MW phase will deploy alkaline electrolysers from German manufacturer Sunfire. PEM technology uses a polymer membrane to split water using renewable electricity, while alkaline electrolysis relies on liquid electrolytes and is typically lower-cost but less flexible.
Transport and integration into hydrogen networks
Hydrogen produced at Lingen will be transported via Germany’s core hydrogen network, the initial sections of which are under construction. RWE said the pipeline will eventually stretch around 600km, linking production sites to industrial consumers including refineries. The project is also integrated with a hydrogen storage facility in Gronau-Epe, due to enter operation in 2027, which will provide seasonal balancing when wind and solar generation is low.
Offtake agreements and demand signals
RWE has signed a long-term supply agreement with TotalEnergies to deliver up to 30,000 tonnes per year of green hydrogen to the French major’s Leuna refinery in Saxony-Anhalt. However, the two reference accounts differ on timing: one indicates deliveries from 2027, while RWE told Platts that the 15-year contract would begin in 2030. The hydrogen will replace fossil fuel-derived hydrogen used in fuel production.
Funding and state support
Get H2 Nukleus and the associated storage project have received €619m in combined funding from the German federal government and the state of Lower Saxony after being designated Important Projects of Common European Interest by the EU, allowing access to state aid. RWE said it advanced procurement and preparatory works ahead of funding approvals to accelerate delivery.
Implications for industry and investors
The start of commissioning underscores Germany’s push to anchor large-scale green hydrogen supply around refineries and heavy industry, using public funding to underwrite early projects. For electrolyzer manufacturers and infrastructure developers, the project provides a reference case for multi-hundred-megawatt plants linked to regulated hydrogen networks, while for policymakers it highlights the growing gap between project build-out and firm long-term offtake timelines.
