- The electrolyser at Rheinland Refinery will expand from 10 MW to 100 MW.
- The plant will produce up to 1,300 tonnes of green hydrogen annually.
- The project is funded by the European Commission through FCH JU.
- The electrolyser was manufactured by ITM Power with parts from Italy, Sweden, Spain, and Germany.
Project Overview
Europe’s largest PEM hydrogen electrolyser has commenced operations at the Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland in Wesseling, Germany. This facility, part of the Refhyne European consortium, is funded by the European Commission through the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU). It is the first to use this technology at such a large scale in a refinery.
Future Expansion
Plans are underway to expand the electrolyser’s capacity from 10 megawatts to 100 megawatts. The site near Cologne will also produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using renewable power and biomass, and a plant for liquefied renewable natural gas (bio-LNG) is in development.
Production and Impact
The Rheinland electrolyser will use renewable electricity to produce up to 1,300 tonnes of green hydrogen annually. This hydrogen will initially be used to produce fuels with lower carbon intensity and help decarbonize other industries.
Consortium and Manufacturing
The European consortium backing the project includes ITM Power, research organization SINTEF, consultants Sphera and Element Energy. The electrolyser was manufactured by ITM Power in Sheffield, UK, with parts sourced from Italy, Sweden, Spain, and Germany.
Regional and Industry Impact
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister-President, Armin Laschet, highlighted the region’s leadership in hydrogen technology, noting that 30% of Germany’s hydrogen demand comes from the region’s industry. Estimates predict this demand will double by 2030, necessitating innovative solutions for CO2-neutral hydrogen.
Future of Clean Hydrogen
Bart Biebuyck, Executive Director of FCH JU, emphasized the importance of clean hydrogen in achieving climate neutrality by 2050. He noted its potential for decarbonizing sectors where direct use of renewable energy is not feasible and stressed the need to accelerate the market launch of fuel cells and hydrogen technology in Europe.
