TotalEnergies and RWE have signed a long-term agreement for the procurement of green hydrogen, marking a significant step in the energy transition. Under the deal, TotalEnergies will purchase approximately 30,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually from RWE to decarbonize its refinery in Leuna, Germany, starting in 2030.
The hydrogen will be produced at RWE's 300 MW electrolysis plant in Lingen, part of the GET H2 Nucleus project, which is set to become operational by 2027. This agreement represents the largest volume of climate-neutral hydrogen ever contracted from an electrolysis plant in Germany, according to RWE.
Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE, expressed pride in the milestone, saying, “We are proud to have signed the first long-term purchase agreement for green hydrogen of this size with TotalEnergies in Germany. Six months after the investment decision to build our 300MW electrolysis in Lingen, we have secured an important anchor customer in TotalEnergies. This shows that hydrogen works with the right incentives for customers.”
TotalEnergies has been seeking substantial quantities of green hydrogen to decarbonize its refineries across Europe and recently put out a tender for 500,000 tonnes per year. This agreement with RWE is part of their broader strategy to reduce emissions and support the transition to cleaner energy.
“This long-term green hydrogen contract is an important milestone in reducing our CO2 emissions at our refinery in Leuna,” said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies. “This is made possible by the completion of the H2 core network by the German authorities and their efficient support for green H2 customers such as our refinery in Leuna.”
The use of 30,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually at the Leuna refinery is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 300,000 tonnes per year, according to RWE.
RWE's electrolysis facility will be powered by renewable energy sources, as required by EU law, ensuring that the hydrogen produced meets strict sustainability criteria. To address potential periods of low renewable generation, RWE Generation plans to utilize hydrogen storage capacities in Gronau-Epe, set to come online in 2027, ensuring a reliable supply of hydrogen for TotalEnergies.
This partnership highlights the growing importance of green hydrogen in decarbonizing industrial sectors, including the refining industry, and underscores the role of long-term agreements in scaling up hydrogen production across Europe.
