Wintershall Dea and VNG stepping up hydrogen activities

• Investment in HiiROC, a company which has developed methane pyrolysis technology
• Technology offers significant potential for CO₂-neutral hydrogen production  

Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wintershall Dea GmbH, and VNG Innovation GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of VNG AG, have jointly invested in HiiROC as a potential technology partner. The company, based in Hull, England, has further developed methane pyrolysis technology to accelerate the cost-effective and CO₂-free production of hydrogen.

“HiiROC’s technology offers us a lot of potential for decentralised hydrogen production,” says Andreas Berger, Managing Director of Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures GmbH.

In methane pyrolysis, natural gas is split into hydrogen and solid carbon. The hydrogen can be used as a clean, carbon-free energy source, while the solid carbon can be used as a raw material in industry; for example, in the production of plastic, rubber or similar products.

Hugo Dijkgraaf, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Executive Board Member at Wintershall Dea, explains: “We actively support the energy transition, including through investments and projects that help to drive forward low-cost, large-scale and low CO₂ hydrogen production.”

The activity is aligned with Wintershall Dea’s strategic goal of minimising Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from 2030 onwards. These emissions are predominantly generated by the combustion of the gas and oil produced by the company. Here, hydrogen is expected to play a key role alongside carbon capture and storage (CCS). Wintershall Dea is actively involved in multiple projects in these areas, including a methane pyrolysis research partnership with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and the CCS-Project Greensand in Denmark.

_{About Wintershall Dea}

_{Wintershall Dea is Europe’s leading independent natural gas and oil company with more than 120 years of experience as an operator and project partner along the entire E&P value chain. The company with German roots and headquarters in Kassel and Hamburg explores for and produces gas and oil in 13 countries worldwide in an efficient and responsible manner. With activities in Europe, Russia, Latin America and the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa), Wintershall Dea has a global upstream portfolio and, with its participation in natural gas transport, is also active in the midstream business.}

_{Wintershall Dea was formed from the merger of Wintershall Holding GmbH and DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG, in 2019. Today, the company employs around 2,500 people worldwide from over 60 nations.}