The Linde Group develops sustainable hydrogen production process

Munich, 22 April 2009 - The technology group The Linde Group is
developing an innovative process for the sustainable production of
hydrogen from biogenic raw materials. Hydromotive GmbH, a subsidiary
of The Linde Group, is to build a demonstration plant from mid-2009
at the chemical site in Leuna, Germany, which will produce hydrogen
from glycerine. The feedstock glycerine is a by-product of biodiesel
production and further processing of glycerine therefore makes good
sense.

"Promising opportunities for the sustainable cost-effective
production of hydrogen are presented by the use of biogenic raw
materials," said Dr Aldo Belloni, member of the Executive Board of
Linde AG. "With this innovative patented process, we have taken yet
another step towards low-emission energy supply using hydrogen."

The plant, which will reprocess, pyrolyse and reform raw glycerine
and will come on stream in mid-2010, will produce a hydrogen-rich
gas, which will be fed into the existing Leuna II hydrogen plant for
the purification and liquefaction of the hydrogen. The "green"
liquefied hydrogen produced there will initially be used in German
centres such as Berlin and Hamburg where hydrogen is being employed
as a fuel.

As a result of its high hydrogen content, raw glycerine, which arises
in the course of biodiesel manufacture, is particularly suited for
the production of hydrogen. The potential benefit of biomass (per
hectare) is exploited to an even greater extent by the conversion of
glycerine into hydrogen for the production of fuel. Biogenically
produced glycerine will not be in competition with food production
and is available all year round.

As the world's largest manufacturer of hydrogen plants, Linde has
access to the full range of technology required for the use of
hydrogen as an energy carrier - from production to filling. Linde is
a leader in the fitting out of hydrogen filling stations and its
filling technology is available in more than in 15 countries. When
hydrogen is used as a fuel, no harmful emissions at all are produced.

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with
almost 52,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In
the 2008 financial year, it achieved sales of 12.7 billion euro. The
strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable
earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its
international business with forward-looking products and services.
Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners,
employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business
areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to
technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and
sustainable development.

For more information, please see The Linde Group online at
http://www.linde.com

Further information:

Press Investor Relations
Uwe Wolfinger Thomas Eisenlohr
Telephone: +49.89.35757-1320 Telephone: +49.89.35757-1330

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