(Food / Oslo) – The Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor ASA and the German energy group RWE want to jointly develop large-scale projects for European energy supply and the development of the hydrogen economy in Germany and the EU. The managing directors Anders Opedal and Markus Krebber have now signed a corresponding agreement after the Governments A few days ago, Norway and Germany expressed their greater cooperation in the hydrogen sector.
RWE and Equinor want to transport hydrogen via pipeline to Germany by 2030 in order to generate electricity in gas and steam power plants. © RWE
The cooperation has the potential to “make Norway an important supplier of hydrogen for Germany and Europe”. This is “a unique opportunity to build a hydrogen industry in Norway, where hydrogen can also be used as a raw material for domestic industries,” says Anders Opedal.
However, the prerequisite for the investments is the “construction of a hydrogen pipeline between Norway and Germany and the development of a German hydrogen follow-up infrastructure”.
First blue, then green hydrogen
Under the agreement, Equinor will invest in projects with an initial production capacity of two gigawatts (GW) of low-carbon (blue) hydrogen in Norway by 2030. By 2038 there should be ten gigawatts. After completion, the systems feed their yield into a pipeline to Germany. RWE then buys the hydrogen to generate electricity in combined gas and steam power plants (CCGTs).
In addition, RWE and Equinor want to investigate the possibilities of using offshore wind energy for hydrogen production at sea. Both companies, together with Shell and Gasunie, are already developing AquaSector involved. The plan is to install wind turbines in the North Sea with an output of 300 megawatts in order to produce up to 20.000 tons of green hydrogen per year.
Investments in hydrogen-compatible gas power plants
RWE and Equinor are also investing together in hydrogen-capable combined cycle power plants in Germany with a total output of three gigawatts by 2030. These systems also served to stabilize the grid to balance fluctuating electricity generation from renewable energies and electricity demand.
According to the specifications of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, the combined cycle plants should achieve a hydrogen content of 50 percent by volume at the time of commissioning. The companies plan to burn 2030 percent hydrogen by mid-100.
Equinor will initially supply the fossil natural gas required to operate the joint combined cycle plants. The natural gas is then replaced with low-carbon blue hydrogen. With the connection of offshore hydrogen production facilities, green hydrogen will gradually complement and ultimately replace blue hydrogen.
Photos
One day, electrolyzers will use offshore wind power directly to produce hydrogen. / © AquaSector
Class schedule
RWE and Equinor want to transport hydrogen via pipeline to Germany by 2030 in order to generate electricity in gas and steam power plants. © RWE
