ITM Power the energy storage and clean fuel company, announced the sale to Linde of a 24MW electrolyser to be installed at the Leuna Chemical Complex in Germany. Linde will build, own and operate the world’s largest PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyser plant at the Leuna Chemical Complex in Germany. This new 24 megawatt electrolyser will produce green hydrogen to supply Linde’s industrial customers through the company’s existing pipeline network. In addition, Linde will distribute liquefied green hydrogen to refuelling stations and other industrial customers in the region. The total green hydrogen being produced can fuel approximately six hundred fuel cell buses driving 40 million kilometres and saving up to 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide tailpipe emissions per year.
The electrolyser will be built by ITM Linde Electrolysis GmbH, a joint venture between Linde and ITM Power, using high-efficiency PEM technology. The plant is due to start production in the second half of 2022.
Jens Waldeck, President, Region Europe West, Linde, said, “Clean hydrogen is a cornerstone of the German and EU strategies to address the challenge of climate change. It is part of the solution to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions across many industries, including chemicals and refining. This project shows that electrolyser capacity continues to scale up and it is a stepping stone towards even larger plants.”
Linde is a global leader in the production, processing, storage and distribution of hydrogen. It has the largest liquid hydrogen capacity and distribution system in the world. The company also operates the world’s first high-purity hydrogen storage cavern, coupled with an unrivalled pipeline network of approximately 1,000 kilometres to reliably supply its customers. Linde is at the forefront in the transition to clean hydrogen and has installed close to 200 hydrogen fuelling stations and 80 hydrogen electrolysis plants worldwide. The company offers the latest electrolysis technology through its joint venture ITM Linde Electrolysis GmbH.
Graham Cooley, CEO, ITM Power, said, “This is the first sale via our joint venture with Linde and is currently the world’s largest announced PEM electrolyser. This is a significant addition to our sales pipeline and illustrates how the capacity and efficiency of our new factory allows us to tender for much larger scale projects. It demonstrates the growing commitment by industry to use green hydrogen produced by electrolysis to decarbonise production processes. We look forward to working closely with Linde to deliver this exciting project.”
Andreas Rupieper, MD, ILE GmbH, said, “ITM Linde Electrolysis GmbH is delighted to have received this order for the world’s largest PEM electrolyser from Linde plc. The close working relationship between the ITM Power engineering team and Linde Engineering in Dresden is driving forward our industrial scale offering to help customers reduce their CO2 emissions. Because we have well-engineered and integrated turn key solutions available today for customers, we feel confident that this important 24MW project is just the beginning of our journey together.”
