<p>Germany's RWE plans to produce hydrogen from renewable energy to supply steelmaker Thyssenkrupp, the two companies told Reuters.</p>.<p>The alliance between two of Germany's heaviest polluters comes as Europe's largest economy maps out a future without nuclear or coal power.</p>.<p>RWE is currently heavily reliant on coal but is able to enter the hydrogen business due to changes to Germany's laws as the government looks to boost hydrogen production.</p>.<p>The planned cooperation between the two sector leaders is aimed at using green hydrogen, where the electricity used in the electrolysis that separates hydrogen from water comes from renewable sources.</p>.<p>RWE plans to build a 100 megawatt hydrogen plant in the state of Lower Saxony to supply Thyssenkrupp's steel operations in Duisburg by the middle of the decade, the companies said, responding to a Reuters request for comment.</p>.<p>Steelmaking accounts for 7-9% of global emissions and has long been considered an ideal use case for hydrogen.</p>.<p>The plant will be able to deliver 1.7 tonnes of hydrogen gas per hour, or about 70% of that required by a blast furnace which Thyssenkrupp plans to install, they said.</p>.<p>This could produce 50,000 tonnes of climate-neutral steel per year, enough needed to make as many cars, they said.</p>.<p>Thyssenkrupp produces 11 million tonnes of steel a year but the partnership would mark a start and reflects an industry-wide shift toward greener energy as rivals, including heavyweight ArcelorMittal, start to explore the technology.</p>.<p>"Climate neutrality in the steel sector is possible and we're accelerating the switch with regard to our production," said Bernhard Osburg, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe.</p>.<p>Germany has committed 9 billion euros ($10.2 billion) to expand hydrogen capacity at home and abroad as part of a national strategy to make the country a key supplier of the technology worldwide.</p>.<p>The companies said the partnership was dependent on the development of a hydrogen transport network.</p>.<p>Roger Miesen, CEO of RWE's Generation division, said the government's strategy needed to be implemented fast to ensure an effective hydrogen expansion. "Investment decisions require planning certainty."</p>
<p>Germany's RWE plans to produce hydrogen from renewable energy to supply steelmaker Thyssenkrupp, the two companies told Reuters.</p>.<p>The alliance between two of Germany's heaviest polluters comes as Europe's largest economy maps out a future without nuclear or coal power.</p>.<p>RWE is currently heavily reliant on coal but is able to enter the hydrogen business due to changes to Germany's laws as the government looks to boost hydrogen production.</p>.<p>The planned cooperation between the two sector leaders is aimed at using green hydrogen, where the electricity used in the electrolysis that separates hydrogen from water comes from renewable sources.</p>.<p>RWE plans to build a 100 megawatt hydrogen plant in the state of Lower Saxony to supply Thyssenkrupp's steel operations in Duisburg by the middle of the decade, the companies said, responding to a Reuters request for comment.</p>.<p>Steelmaking accounts for 7-9% of global emissions and has long been considered an ideal use case for hydrogen.</p>.<p>The plant will be able to deliver 1.7 tonnes of hydrogen gas per hour, or about 70% of that required by a blast furnace which Thyssenkrupp plans to install, they said.</p>.<p>This could produce 50,000 tonnes of climate-neutral steel per year, enough needed to make as many cars, they said.</p>.<p>Thyssenkrupp produces 11 million tonnes of steel a year but the partnership would mark a start and reflects an industry-wide shift toward greener energy as rivals, including heavyweight ArcelorMittal, start to explore the technology.</p>.<p>"Climate neutrality in the steel sector is possible and we're accelerating the switch with regard to our production," said Bernhard Osburg, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe.</p>.<p>Germany has committed 9 billion euros ($10.2 billion) to expand hydrogen capacity at home and abroad as part of a national strategy to make the country a key supplier of the technology worldwide.</p>.<p>The companies said the partnership was dependent on the development of a hydrogen transport network.</p>.<p>Roger Miesen, CEO of RWE's Generation division, said the government's strategy needed to be implemented fast to ensure an effective hydrogen expansion. "Investment decisions require planning certainty."</p>