- The funding application seeks a medium double-digit million euro amount over ten years.
- RWE plans a 100-megawatt electrolysis plant in Lingen to produce green hydrogen by 2024.
- Green hydrogen at bp's Gelsenkirchen refinery could save 105,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
- EU Innovation Fund decision on funding expected by end of 2021.
Project Overview
The GET H2 Nukleus project aims to establish Germany's first publicly accessible hydrogen network with scalable industrial production of green hydrogen. The consortium, including RWE Generation, bp, Evonik, Nowega, and OGE, has applied for EU Innovation Fund support.
Funding Application
The application seeks partial coverage of investment and operating costs for RWE and bp, amounting to a medium double-digit million euro sum over ten years. Securing this funding is crucial for the project's economic viability and to meet climate targets.
Project Implementation
RWE plans to build a 100-megawatt electrolysis plant at its Lingen gas power station, expected to produce two tonnes of green hydrogen per hour by 2024. This hydrogen will be transported via existing natural gas pipelines to bp's Gelsenkirchen refinery, Evonik's Marl Chemical Park, and potentially other customers.
Environmental Impact
At the bp refinery in Gelsenkirchen, green hydrogen could save 105,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, totaling around 1 million tonnes over ten years. A technical study has confirmed the feasibility of using green hydrogen at the refinery.
Regulatory Requirements
For rapid project progress, appropriate governmental framework conditions are needed, such as reducing EEG surcharges on electricity used in hydrogen production and establishing legal regulations for hydrogen network operations. Green hydrogen's ability to count towards greenhouse gas reduction targets is also essential for future customers like bp.
Next Steps
The EU Innovation Fund, one of the largest funding programs for low-carbon technologies, will review the application. A decision on whether GET H2 Nukleus will proceed to the second application phase is expected by spring 2021, with final funding eligibility determined by the end of 2021.
