Shell switches on 10-MW electrolyser in Germany, largest of its kind in Europe

Royal Dutch Shell (AMS:RDSA) today announced the start of operations of what is described as Europe’s largest polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyser at its Rheinland refinery in Germany.

Powered by renewable electricity, the 10-MW electrolyser will produce up to 1,300 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, which will initially be used for the production of lower-carbon fuels. The green hydrogen will also be used to contribute to the decarbonisation of other industries.

The capacity of the electrolyser is planned to be increased to 100 MW.

The project was delivered by a consortium including Shell, ITM Power Plc (LON:ITM), which manufactured the electrolyser in Sheffield, the UK, research organisation SINTEF, consultants Sphera and Element Energy. It is supported by European Commission funding through the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU).

“Shell wants to become a leading supplier of green hydrogen for industrial and transport customers in Germany,” said Shell’s downstream director Huibert Vigeveno. “We will be involved in the whole process — from power generation, using offshore wind, to hydrogen production and distribution across sectors,” he added.

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