Linde Engineering announced it has signed an agreement with Shell Deutschland GmbH (Shell) to build a 100 megawatt (MW) renewable H₂ plant for the REFHYNE II project at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland in Wesseling, Germany.

Linde Engineering will be responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of a new proton exchange membrane (PEM) H₂ electrolysis facility. ITM Power will supply the electrolyzer stacks.

REFHYNE II is expected to produce up to 44,000 kilograms per day of renewable H₂ to partially decarbonize site operations. It will be used to produce cleaner energy products, such as transport fuels, with a lower carbon intensity. As demand evolves, renewable H₂ from REFHYNE II could also be directly supplied to industrial customers in the region to help them lower their emissions. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2027.

“H₂ 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 Global Sales & Technology at Linde Engineering. “This project draws on our decades of experience in developing H₂ projects at scale worldwide and we are proud to have been selected by Shell to help deliver its vision for REFHYNE II. This project also demonstrates how strong political commitment, and supportive incentives can help progress the development of the H₂ economy.”

The REFHYNE II project has been enabled by financial support from both the European Union and the Federal Government and benefits from a regulatory framework supporting the use of renewable H₂.

“With the 100-MW electrolysis REFHYNE II, we are further advancing Shell’s goal of being a net-zero-emissions-company by 2050. For Shell Energy & Chemicals Park Rheinland, REFHYNE II is a great investment and a milestone in its transition. 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 H₂ projects in Europe,” said Andrew Beard, Shell VP H₂.

REFHYNE II follows the success of the 10 MW PEM electrolyzer REFHYNE I, which started up in 2021 and employs PEM electrolyzer technology.