TotalEnergies has announced a significant agreement with the German energy developer RWE to supply 30,000 tons of green hydrogen per year to the Leuna refinery, marking another step toward its ambitious goal of decarbonizing hydrogen usage across its European operations.
The contract, which was publicly unveiled on March 12, 2025, lays the groundwork for green hydrogen delivery to commence by 2030 and to span 15 years. This bold initiative aims to reduce CO2 emissions at the Leuna site by approximately 300,000 tons annually, addressing growing environmental concerns associated with energy production.
The green hydrogen will be generated via RWE’s 300 MW electrolyzer, which is set to be constructed and managed at their facility in Lingen, Germany. To facilitate the delivery, RWE will employ a 600 km pipeline connecting the electrolyzer directly to the refinery.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, expressed enthusiasm for the venture, highlighting the importance of this long-term contract. He stated, "We are looking forward to developing our partnership with RWE, our partner in several offshore wind projects in Germany and the Netherlands. This long-term contract for green hydrogen marks an important milestone to reducing our CO2 emissions at our Leuna refinery."
This project is set against the backdrop of TotalEnergies' broader goal to slash its annual CO2 emissions by around three million tons by 2030, demonstrating the company's commitment to reforming its operations to become more sustainable.
Markus Krebber, Chief Executive Officer of RWE, also commented on the significance of securing such a major agreement, saying, "We are proud to have secured the first long-term offtake agreement for green hydrogen of this size with TotalEnergies in Germany. Six months after the investment decision for the construction of the 300-megawatt electrolysis plant in Lingen, we have acquired an important anchor customer in TotalEnergies. This shows hydrogen works with the right incentives for customers."
TotalEnergies is not new to the hydrogen space; the company has already secured contracts for over 200,000 tons of various green and renewable hydrogen forms for refineries located at different sites across Europe, including La Mède, Grandpuits, and Normandy in France, and ports like Antwerp and Zeeland. This strategic move is part of its transition toward renewable energy sources, which is increasingly necessary as the world strives to meet climate targets.
The significance of this agreement cannot be understated. It sets precedence for hydrogen procurement for large-scale industrial operations, showcasing the potential to curb carbon emissions significantly, aligning with both corporate and international environmental goals.
The success of this initiative also hinges on the completion of Germany's H2 backbone, which will provide the necessary infrastructure to support hydrogen transportation and usage across the country. By developing such capabilities, Germany is positioning itself as a leader not only within the European Union but on the global stage for renewable energy and sustainability.
This partnership exemplifies the synergy between advancing technology and responding to climate change imperatives. With increased investments flowing toward developing hydrogen economies, the future seems ripe for green hydrogen solutions to play pivotal roles not only at TotalEnergies' operations but throughout the energy sector.
With the global energy market facing unprecedented pressure to transition to sustainable practices, TotalEnergies’ collaboration with RWE to supply green hydrogen at the Leuna refinery signals optimism for future breakthroughs. This partnership is poised to not only meet local regulatory demand for emissions reduction but also to inspire similar ventures across the globe.