TotalEnergies and RWE have for agreed on conditions for the purchase of green hydrogen over a period of 15 years. The agreement stipulates that TotalEnergies will purchase around 30,000 metric tons of green hydrogen per year from RWE for its refinery in Leuna (Saxony-Anhalt) from 2030. This is the largest quantity of climate-neutral hydrogen ever contracted from an electrolyzer in Germany, the partners said.

The agreement is a signal for the German market because fuel suppliers such as refineries are encouraged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions gradually over time. Using 30,000 metric tons of green hydrogen in a refinery saves 300,000 metric tons of cO₂ per year—as much 140,000 cars emit on average per year.

TotalEnergies needs significant quantities of green hydrogen to decarbonise its refineries in Europe. The company has invited tenders for 500,000 metric tons per year across Europe. The 30,000 metric tons that have been contractually agreed upon will be produced at RWE's 300-megawatt electrolysis plant in Lingen (GET H2 Nukleus), which will go into operation by 2027.

RWE operates its electrolyzers with electricity from renewable energy sources. Under EU law, these electrolyzers may only be operated with renewable electricity generated in the same hour as the hydrogen. In order to be able to reliably supply the contractually agreed hydrogen even at times when there is little sun and wind, RWE Generation will use booked capacities of the hydrogen storage facility in Gronau-Epe. A subsidiary of RWE, RWE Gas Storage West, plans to put this facility into operation in 2027.

The supply relationship between RWE and TotalEnergies will be facilitated by the German hydrogen core network. This will connect ideal hydrogen production sites, such as Lingen in Lower Saxony, with large centers of industrial hydrogen consumption, such as Leuna. The more than 9,000-kilometer-long pipeline network is to be phased into operation between 2025 and 2032 by both repurposing existing gas pipelines and building sections of new pipelines.