- BP and Ørsted plan a 50 MW electrolyser at Lingen Refinery, operational by 2024.
- The project aims to produce 9,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, reducing CO2 emissions by 80,000 tonnes.
- Final investment decision expected in early 2022, pending enabling policies.
- The electrolyser will be powered by renewable energy from an Ørsted offshore wind farm.
Project Overview
BP and Ørsted have signed a Letter of Intent to develop an industrial-scale green hydrogen project at BP’s Lingen Refinery in Germany. The project will feature a 50 MW electrolyser powered by renewable energy from an Ørsted offshore wind farm in the North Sea.
Green Hydrogen Production
The electrolyser will produce green hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable power, resulting in zero emissions. The project aims to produce one tonne of green hydrogen per hour, totaling nearly 9,000 tonnes annually. This will replace around 20% of the refinery’s current grey hydrogen consumption, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 80,000 tonnes per year.
Timeline and Investment
BP and Ørsted plan to finalize project details and make a final investment decision by early 2022, contingent on supportive policies. The project is expected to be operational by 2024.
Future Ambitions
The companies aim to expand the project to over 500 MW of renewable-powered electrolysis capacity at Lingen, potentially meeting all the refinery’s hydrogen needs and providing feedstock for future synthetic fuel production. They have applied for funding from the EU Innovation Fund to support this initiative.
Additional Considerations
BP and Ørsted will also focus on maximizing the efficiency of the electrolysis system and exploring sustainable uses for by-products like oxygen and low-grade excess heat. The Lingen Refinery, which processes about five million tonnes of crude oil annually, previously conducted the world’s first trial of green hydrogen in a fuels refinery in 2018.
