Hydrogen

How exactly does this fuel of the future work?

Hydrogen is a naturally occurring chemical element that can be found in almost unlimited quantities. It is 14 times lighter than air, can be combusted without producing any CO₂ emissions and is not self-ignitious, corrosive or radioactive.

In order to use its energy content, however, this colourless and odourless gas has to be separated off from hydrogen-rich compounds such as natural gas, biomass or water by using chemical, electrical, thermal or solar energy.

Water electrolysis involves using electricity to break water down into oxygen and hydrogen. A system of colours indicates both the production method as well as its carbon footprint: If the electricity produced by water electrolysis is sourced from renewables, such as wind or solar power, it is referred to as green hydrogen. Grey hydrogen is produced conventionally using natural gas. If the carbon emissions produced in the process are not released but captured and stored, it is referred to as blue hydrogen. Less common is turquoise hydrogen, which entails thermal separation of methane, creating solid carbon rather than climate-damaging carbon dioxide.

RWE paves the way for the use of green hydrogen

Various possible applications

Hydrogen is seen as playing a key role in the decarbonisation of energy-intensive sectors. In addition to reducing CO₂ emissions in industrial processes, hydrogen could be used as a sustainable fuel in the transport sector and as a sustainable combustible for heat supply in the medium term.

The ever increasing interlinking of potential applications – electricity and heat, transport and industry – is referred to as sector coupling.

Green hydrogen in particular produced by regenerative energy is considered a key technology in the drive for climate neutrality.

RWE hydrogen brochure (PDF)

Key technology for net-zero carbon emissions

No emissions in generation and application
Safe to transport, store and handle
Can be used flexibly either as a fuel or raw material and mixed with natural gas subject to defined limits
Serves as the basis for producing e-fuels, particularly for cars, aircraft and ships
Low land use, widely accepted in society

Hydrogen at RWE

Together with partners from associations and corporations, RWE is currently pressing ahead with around 30 green hydrogen projects in Europe at various demonstration and testing facilities.

A selection of our current projects is available here.

Hydrogen project GET H2 Nukleus

RWE partner project at the Lingen site

Eemshydrogen

Electrolyser with direct connection to onshore wind farm in the Netherlands

H₂ercules

Hydrogen fast track linking the North Sea coast with southern Germany

Further hydrogen projects and project details at a glance.

Rules make hydrogen green

Green hydrogen is indispensable for the energy transition and climate neutrality. The prerequisite for qualifying as "green" is that the hydrogen is produced with the help of renewable sources.

The European Union lays down uniform rules for this, but they still have to be finalised in a special legal text.

Our video explains what is needed for Europe to quickly build the much-needed hydrogen economy.