The GET H2 Nukleus hydrogen project reached a major milestone, with the first hydrogen produced through electrolysis in Lingen, Lower Saxony, successfully reaching Marl in the northern Ruhr region. The delivery demonstrates that hydrogen production, transport infrastructure and industrial consumption can operate together as an integrated system.
Renewable Hydrogen Moves Through 120-Kilometre Pipeline Network
As part of the ongoing commissioning of two 100-megawatt (MW) electrolysis plants operated by RWE in Lingen, the facilities have started producing initial quantities of renewable hydrogen in line with European Union requirements. The hydrogen travels through a pipeline network spanning approximately 120 kilometres. Transmission system operators Nowega and OGE, along with SYNEQT, an Evonik subsidiary, operate key parts of the infrastructure. The network transports the hydrogen to Evonik’s Marl Chemical Park, where industries can use it directly in production processes. This successful delivery therefore marks an important step towards integrating renewable hydrogen into industrial operations.
GET H2 Nukleus Supports Germany’s Hydrogen Network
Parts of the GET H2 Nukleus project receive funding from the German federal government and the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia through the IPCEI Hy2Infra programme (Important Projects of Common European Interest). Moreover, the pipelines form some of the first sections of Germany’s emerging hydrogen core network. Thomas Hüwener, CEO of OGE, said the project is bringing the company’s first hydrogen pipelines into network operation. He added that GET H2 Nukleus will help establish the hydrogen economy in the region while allowing operators to test important processes such as network access, capacity booking and balancing under real operating conditions.
RWE Advances 300 MW Electrolysis Capacity
RWE Generation SE CEO Nikolaus Valerius highlighted the successful connection between renewable hydrogen production, transport infrastructure and industrial demand. RWE plans to commission 200 MW of electrolysis capacity in Lingen by the end of 2026. Subsequently, the company expects the entire facility to reach 300 MW capacity from 2027. The hydrogen produced at RWE’s electrolysis facilities complies with EU requirements for Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO). Customers will also receive sustainability certification, allowing them to include renewable hydrogen in their decarbonisation accounting.
Project Partners Move into Real-World Operations
The successful hydrogen delivery also reflects years of collaboration among the project partners. According to Frank Heunemann, Managing Director of Nowega, early engagement with customers and joint project development helped establish the foundations for the new hydrogen system. The partners are now moving from project development into practical operation, where the individual components can work together under real-world conditions. The companies had already gained experience through the GET H2 TransHyDE research project. They can now build on that knowledge by operating the complete hydrogen system under actual industrial conditions.
Hydrogen Strengthens Marl Chemical Park
For SYNEQT, the arrival of hydrogen at the Marl Chemical Park represents another step towards the site’s sustainable transformation. Thomas Basten, Chairman of the Management Board of SYNEQT, said the hydrogen can be used directly in industrial processes once it reaches Marl. In addition, reliable access to hydrogen could make the chemical park more attractive to new businesses seeking low-carbon energy and feedstock solutions. The long-term cooperation between the project partners has helped combine their expertise and establish infrastructure for the hydrogen ramp-up in the chemical industry.
More Hydrogen Pipelines and Storage Projects Underway
The GET H2 Nukleus network continues to expand. Several connected infrastructure projects have already been completed or are currently under development. One major milestone came at the end of 2025, when OGE and Nowega completed a 10-kilometre new-build hydrogen pipeline between Heek and Epe. The pipeline connects the network with hydrogen storage infrastructure. Furthermore, RWE Gas Storage West plans to begin filling the first commercial cavern storage facility for hydrogen in Europe at the end of 2026. The facility is scheduled to enter operation in mid-2027. To connect additional industrial customers, OGE and Nowega are also converting an existing pipeline between Legden and Dorsten for hydrogen transport by 2027. In parallel, they are constructing a new pipeline connecting Dorsten and Marl. A further pipeline linking SYNEQT’s Marl Chemical Park with the refinery in Gelsenkirchen-Scholven has already been completed.
Building the Foundation for Germany’s Hydrogen Economy
The first renewable hydrogen delivery from Lingen to Marl demonstrates the growing integration of electrolysis, hydrogen pipelines, storage and industrial demand. With additional electrolysers, pipelines and storage facilities progressing, GET H2 Nukleus is helping establish the infrastructure needed to scale renewable hydrogen use across Germany. As per the press release, for the chemical industry in particular, the project could provide an important pathway towards industrial decarbonisation, while simultaneously supporting the development of a broader hydrogen economy.
