Germany's first integrated hydrogen value chain goes into operation

The GET H2 Nukleus project has reached a major milestone with the first delivery of renewable hydrogen from Lingen in Lower Saxony to Marl in North Rhine-Westphalia. The achievement marks the first successful interaction of electrolysis, hydrogen transport infrastructure and industrial offtake within the integrated hydrogen project.

The hydrogen is currently being produced during the commissioning phase of RWE's two 100 MW electrolysers in Lingen. It is transported through a 120-kilometre pipeline network operated by transmission system operators OGE, Nowega and SYNEQT, an Evonik subsidiary, before being supplied to Evonik's Marl Chemical Park for industrial applications.

Parts of the project receive funding from the German federal government and the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia under the IPCEI Hy2Infra programme. The pipelines also form part of Germany's future hydrogen core network.

Pipeline network enters operational phase

OGE CEO Thomas Hüwener described the commissioning of the first hydrogen pipelines as an important step towards establishing Germany's hydrogen economy.

"With GET H2 Nukleus, our first hydrogen pipelines are now entering network operation," he said. The project also provides an opportunity to test future market mechanisms, including network access, capacity booking and balancing under real operating conditions.

RWE prepares for full electrolysis operations

According to Nikolaus Valerius, CEO of RWE Generation, the first hydrogen delivery demonstrates that renewable hydrogen production, transportation and industrial consumption can already function as an integrated system.

"The fact that certified renewable hydrogen from Lingen has reached Marl via pipelines shows that electrolysis, transport infrastructure and industrial offtake can work together," he said.

RWE plans to commission 200 MW of electrolysis capacity in Lingen by the end of 2026, with the site's total capacity scheduled to increase to 300 MW in 2027. The hydrogen will meet the EU requirements for Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO), allowing industrial customers to use certified renewable hydrogen for their decarbonisation targets.

Hydrogen network and storage continue to expand

Project partners say the early cooperation between hydrogen producers, infrastructure operators and industrial users has helped accelerate practical implementation.

"The early exchange and joint project development with the first customers using the transport infrastructure as part of GET H2 have paid off," said Frank Heunemann, Managing Director of Nowega.

Meanwhile, Thomas Basten, Chairman of SYNEQT, said the arrival of hydrogen in Marl would both support existing industrial production and improve the attractiveness of the chemical park for future investments.

Further infrastructure projects underway

Several additional infrastructure projects linked to GET H2 Nukleus are already completed or under construction.

A 10-kilometre hydrogen pipeline connecting Heek and Epe was completed at the end of 2025, providing access to a hydrogen storage facility. RWE Gas Storage West plans to begin filling what it describes as Europe's first commercial hydrogen cavern storage facility by the end of 2026, with commercial operation expected in mid-2027.

Additional projects include the conversion of an existing hydrogen pipeline between Legden and Dorsten, the construction of a new connection from Dorsten to Marl, and a completed pipeline linking the Marl Chemical Park with the Gelsenkirchen-Scholven refinery.

Building Germany's hydrogen economy

Launched in 2019, the GET H2 initiative brings together more than 50 companies, research institutions, associations and municipalities to develop hydrogen infrastructure across the entire value chain, including production, imports, transport, storage and industrial applications. The GET H2 Nukleus project represents one of Germany's first integrated industrial-scale hydrogen projects.

Source and Photo: RWE