GET H2 Nucleus: Hydrogen for the chemical industry

By 2030, bp plans to transform its refinery in Lingen into an "integrated energy center" that will produce green hydrogen as well as biofuels. In the long term, the capacity should be over 500 MW. bp is expecting to spend a mid to high three-digit million euro amount on the conversion. Source: bp

In the GET H2 initiative, more than 50 partners from science, administration and industry are trying to build a hydrogen infrastructure in the triangle between North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and the Netherlands. The chemical industry between Lingen and Duisburg in particular wants to decarbonize its processes with the help of self-produced and imported green hydrogen. The initiative's most important project is GET H2 Nukleus. The partners involved, including several major international corporations, have made significant progress in recent times. This is one of the reasons why the project is currently considered one of the most ambitious in Germany. Read here why this is the case and why manufacturers of industrial valves in particular should keep an eye on GET H2 Nukleus.

Get H2 Nukleus is a project of six partners of the GET H2 initiative. It involves the British chemical and mineral oil company bp, the Essen-based chemical company Evonik Industries, the energy supplier RWE Generation, also based in Essen, and the gas network operators Nowega and OGE. Their aim is to jointly establish one of the first integrated hydrogen projects including publicly accessible infrastructure.

The GET H2 Nukleus project combines the production of green hydrogen with the purchase by industrial companies in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. The approximately 130 km long network from Lingen to Gelsenkirchen is to become the first hydrogen network in the regulated sector with non-discriminatory access and transparent prices. The components of the GET H2 Nukleus are earmarked for funding as an IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest). In addition, the GET H2 network is to become part of the hydrogen core network planned by the German transmission system operators.

2025: First hydrogen production

In phase 1 of the project, RWE Generation wants to produce green hydrogen from wind power in Lingen, Lower Saxony. To this end, an electrolysis plant with a total capacity of 300 MW is to be installed at the Group's own power plant site, with the first step comprising a capacity of 100 MW by 2025. The necessary approval for this was granted by the responsible trade supervisory office in Oldenburg at the beginning of September, following a seven-month review of the 2,250-page application.

In order to enable the transportation of 100 percent hydrogen, existing gas pipelines of the transmission system operators Nowega and OGE will also be converted accordingly. Nowega will connect the electrolysis plant in Lingen to the main pipeline in the direction of the Ruhr region via a newly constructed pipeline. At the same time, Evonik plans to build a new section between the Marl Chemical Park and bp's Ruhr Oel refinery in Gelsenkirchen.

This infrastructure will be used to transport the climate-friendly raw material to industrial customers. Companies such as Evonik want to use the green hydrogen in their production processes and expect it to significantly reduce their CO2 emissions. In a further step, Nowega and OGE will connect the gas storage facilities of RWE Gas Storage West in Gronau-Epe with a new building to create a new cavern storage facility specifically for hydrogen.

2026: Further expansion steps

In 2026, the project consortium plans to take the next step towards green hydrogen production and infrastructure in the area around Lingen. bp's "Lingen Green Hydrogen" project envisages the construction of a second electrolysis plant with a capacity of 100 MW, which will be seamlessly integrated into the existing hydrogen network. This plant will then not only strengthen the local infrastructure, but also supply the adjacent bp refinery with green hydrogen. This is intended to replace the gray hydrogen produced with fossil energy that is currently used there.

The plans for the expansion of the infrastructure also include the construction of a new connecting pipeline between the Dorsten and Marl sites. This key element, which the network operators OGE and Nowega want to realize together, will create an additional connection for Evonik's chemical park in Marl. Nowega is going one step further by converting a pipeline specifically for the transportation of hydrogen - a measure that can serve to integrate Salzgitter AG's steelworks into the hydrogen network in the future.

 At the same time, the hydrogen storage facility of RWE Gas Storage West in Gronau-Epe is planned to go into operation from 2026. The storage of hydrogen is seen as a key component in ensuring security of supply and the long-term storage of renewable energies. In addition, RWE's electrolysis plant in Lingen will be expanded to a total capacity of 200 MW as part of these developments.

2027: Integration with the Netherlands and entry of Salzgitter

The consortium expects further major measures to expand the hydrogen infrastructure and secure the hydrogen supply by 2027. The network is also to be significantly expanded.

Integration up to the Dutch border will be achieved by converting gas pipelines between Kalle, Ochtrup and Vlieghuis to transport 100% hydrogen through the Dortmund-based GET H2 member Thyssengas. This step enables the connection to the Dutch hydrogen network Hynetwork, which belongs to the network operator Gasunie. It will link Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France and include the port of Rotterdam as a major import point.

In addition, a 100 MW electrolyzer supplied with electricity from wind energy will be in operation at the Salzgitter AG steelworks in 2027. It is part of the SALCOS project, Salzgitter AG's decarbonization initiative, which aims to make steel production more climate-friendly by gradually switching to direct reduction powered by green hydrogen.

The new pipeline from Dorsten to Hamborn from OGE and Thyssengas will create an additional connection to the Ruhr region. It is crucial for connecting the ThyssenKrupp steelworks, which is also converting its production to hydrogen-powered direct reduction plants that run on hydrogen.

Last but not least, RWE's electrolysis plant in Lingen is to be expanded to 300 MW in 2027.

The TRI-CON series from the manufacturer Zwick fulfills the requirements for the flow of hydrogen. You will find the company at the Valve World Expo at Messe Düsseldorf, among other places

2030: Integration of the components

The final step by 2030 involves the integration of Salzgitter AG via existing Nowega gas pipelines, which will be specially converted for hydrogen transportation. The conversion will enable Salzgitter AG to be seamlessly integrated into the existing hydrogen network. By using green hydrogen in refineries, steel production and for other industrial applications, the overall project has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 16 million tons by 2030.

The expansion of the project through partnerships from the transport sector and for the nationwide distribution of green hydrogen is already in the preparation phase. Several partners of the GET H2 initiative have also expressed interest in receiving funding under the IPCEI for projects in the Hy2Infra wave approved by the EU Commission on February 15, which aims to develop a hydrogen infrastructure.

GET H2 Nukleus: A blueprint for the industrial valves sector

The GET H2 Nukleus project is a blueprint for German industrial valve manufacturers and offers promising opportunities for the increased use of green hydrogen in industry. Both the establishment of a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure between different chemical industry sites and the use of this hydrogen in local processes opens up new sales opportunities for valve manufacturers whose products are H2-ready.

The increased integration of green hydrogen in industrial processes, for example in the steel or chemical industry, requires advanced valves and valve technologies. Manufacturers who can develop innovative solutions for the safe and efficient handling of hydrogen have the opportunity to position themselves as key suppliers in these markets.

With many industrial companies increasingly focusing on environmentally friendly standards, valve manufacturers that develop specialized products for hydrogen processing could strengthen their competitiveness. GET H2 Nukleus could therefore increase the motivation for industrial valve manufacturers to participate in research and development activities to develop innovative solutions that meet the specific requirements of the hydrogen industry.

Active participation in projects such as GET H2 Nukleus could help German industrial valve manufacturers to strengthen their position as pioneers in hydrogen technology and consolidate their international competitiveness in a growing market. Overall, the focus on green hydrogen through GET H2 Nukleus opens up promising opportunities for industrial valve manufacturers to adapt their products and technologies to the needs of the changing industrial landscape.

Find out more about the use of industrial valves with hydrogen at Valve World Expo at Messe Düsseldorf from December 3 to 5!

Official project page

https://www.get-h2.de/geth2-projekte/