Germany’s leading utility, RWE, has announced a landmark agreement to supply French oil giant TotalEnergies with approximately 30,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually from 2030. The deal, which will run until 2044, marks the largest amount of carbon-neutral hydrogen ever contracted from a German electrolysis facility.

RWE will produce green hydrogen at its 300-megawatt electrolysis plant in Lingen, located in western Germany, scheduled to commence operations in 2027. The hydrogen will be transported to TotalEnergies’ Leuna refinery near Leipzig through Germany’s new hydrogen core network, expected to be operational between 2025 and 2032.

“This shows that with the right incentives, hydrogen works for customers,” said RWE CEO Markus Krebber, highlighting the potential of hydrogen as a cleaner energy source despite growing concerns over high costs and energy prices in Europe.

The agreement strengthens the ongoing partnership between RWE and TotalEnergies in the clean energy sector, including their collaboration in offshore wind projects. It also supports TotalEnergies’ ambitious plan to decarbonize its European refineries.

Additionally, RWE Generation will utilize the hydrogen storage facility in Gronau-Epe, which is expected to be operational by 2027.