Shell company announced that Europe’s largest PEM hydrogen electrolyser has started production at its Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland, producing green hydrogen, according to a press release.
The plant is operated as a part of the Refhyne European consortium. It is funded by European Commission through the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU). The plant is the first to use this technology in its operation.
Shell added that plans are prepared to expand capacity of the electrolyser from 10 megawatts to 100 megawatts at the Rheinland site, where Shell intends to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using renewable power and biomass in the future. A plant for liquefied renewable natural gas (bio-LNG) is also in development.
During the official opening ceremony, Shell’s Downstream Director, Huibert Vigeveno, said: “This project demonstrates a new kind of energy future and a model of lower-carbon energy production that can be replicated worldwide.”
“Shell wants to become a leading supplier of green hydrogen for industrial and transport customers in Germany,” he added.

Shell aims to become a net-zero-emissions energy business by 2050. It plans to transform its refinery footprint to five core energy and chemicals parks reducing the production of traditional fuels by 55% by 2030. The Rheinland electrolyser will use renewable electricity to produce up to 1,300 tons of green hydrogen a year. This will initially be used to produce fuels with lower carbon intensity.