RWE and Westfalen Group have initiated the construction of the “H2 Filling Hub Lingen,” a hydrogen refueling infrastructure project in Lingen.
The facility comprises a public refueling station for commercial vehicles and a non-public filling station for tanker vehicles. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote green hydrogen and support Germany’s energy transition goals.
The H2 Filling Hub Lingen will source its green hydrogen from RWE’s 14-megawatt pilot electrolyser. This facility is expected to provide up to 500 kilograms of hydrogen per day, with the overall system capable of processing over 2,500 kilograms daily. While this represents a significant capacity, it is essential to contextualize these figures within the broader hydrogen infrastructure landscape.
Comparing this project to other hydrogen initiatives, such as those by Air Liquide or Shell, reveals a mixed picture. For instance, Shell’s Rheinland refinery in Germany is set to produce up to 1,300 kilograms of hydrogen per hour, vastly outscaling the Lingen facility. This comparison highlights the need for RWE and Westfalen Group to scale their operations rapidly to remain competitive and meet increasing demand.
The project has secured €6 million in funding from the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) as part of the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology. The total investment volume for the project is around €18 million. While this funding is substantial, the hydrogen sector’s capital-intensive nature means that significantly more investment will be required to achieve large-scale deployment.
RWE will own the facility, while Westfalen will handle operations. This division of responsibilities leverages both companies’ strengths but also requires seamless coordination to ensure efficient operations. The success of this partnership will be a critical factor in the project’s overall performance and could serve as a model for similar collaborations in the future.
The project’s goal is to enable companies to switch to hydrogen and meet their climate targets early.
