Shell, Linde, and ITM Power have partnered to build a 100-megawatt plant in Germany aimed at producing clean hydrogen as part of broader efforts to expand hydrogen infrastructure across Europe.
The new facility, named REFHYNE II, will be capable of producing up to 44,000 kg of renewable hydrogen per day and is expected to begin operations in 2027. Linde Engineering has been contracted to construct the plant.
Huibert Vigeveno, Director of Downstream, Renewables, and Energy Solutions at Shell, stated that the project represents a significant milestone in Shell’s strategy to generate more value with fewer emissions. “Investing in REFHYNE II is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the hydrogen economy, which will be crucial in helping to decarbonize Shell’s operations and customer products,” he said. “Our decision to invest illustrates what can be achieved with the right enabling conditions to deliver competitive projects.”
The Importance of Clean Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a clean energy source that, when used as fuel, produces only water as a byproduct. It has the potential to power everything from heavy-duty trucks to electricity generation, all while eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. However, the most commonly produced hydrogen, known as grey hydrogen, is derived from natural gas through steam methane reforming (SMR), a process that releases CO2.
In contrast, green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. The REFHYNE II plant will utilize this process to generate clean, green hydrogen.
“Hydrogen will play a key role in decarbonizing energy-intensive industrial sectors, and Linde is at the forefront of developing the technology needed to achieve this,” said John van der Velden, Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Technology at Linde Engineering. “This project showcases how strong political commitment and supportive incentives can advance the development of the hydrogen economy.”
Andrew Beard, Vice President for Hydrogen at Shell, emphasized that REFHYNE II is a critical step toward Shell’s goal of becoming a net zero emissions company by 2050. “For Shell Energy & Chemicals Park Rheinland, REFHYNE II is a significant investment and a milestone in its transition,” he noted. “The project will benefit from the experience that Shell and its partners, Linde and ITM, have in the development, construction, and operation of other renewable hydrogen projects in Europe.”
The REFHYNE Project
The REFHYNE Project is funded by the European Commission’s Clean Hydrogen Partnership as part of the initiative to supply clean hydrogen to refineries across Europe. The project began in 2018 with a 10-megawatt electrolyser capable of producing 1,300 tonnes of hydrogen annually.
The hydrogen produced by REFHYNE is used for:
- Processing and upgrading products at the Wesseling refinery site.
- Testing PEM technology at the largest scale achieved to date.
- Exploring applications in other sectors, including industry, power generation, heating, and transport.
ITM Power, which manufactured the first REFHYNE plant, will provide 100 megawatts of TRIDENT stacks and skids for REFHYNE II. Dennis Schulz, CEO of ITM Power, expressed pride in being selected for this prestigious project. “The performance of our latest generation electrolyser stacks in the REFHYNE I plant was a key factor in Shell’s decision to proceed to Final Investment Decision (FID), along with their thorough due diligence on our technology and capability to deliver this large-scale commercial project,” Schulz said.
