Shell's Refhyne electrolysis plant
Shell starts up Europe’s biggest PEM electrolyser at German refinery
Second phase to raise 10MW capacity to 100MW at advanced planning stage
Shell has started up Europe’s largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) green hydrogen electrolyser at its German Rhineland Refinery near Cologne. The 10MW Refhyne electrolyser, manufactured by UK-based ITM Power, will have annual output of around 1,300t of green hydrogen and will be used initially in the production of clean fuels at Shell’s Wesseling site, replacing quantities of hydrogen produced via the steam methane reforming route. The green hydrogen will also be aimed at other industrial and transport applications. “The next step, Refhyne II, is even bigger and would take us into the hundreds of megawatts for the first time, on our way to gigawatts deployments” Cooley, ITM Power “
Also in this section
4 February 2026
Europe’s largest electrolyser manufacturers are losing patience with policymakers as sluggish growth in the green hydrogen sector undermines their decision to expand production capacity
2 February 2026
As a fertiliser feedstock, it is indispensable, but ammonia’s potential as a carbon-free energy carrier is also making it central to global decarbonisation strategies
28 January 2026
The development of hydrogen’s distribution system must speed up if the industry is to stand any chance of grabbing a meaningful slice of the low-carbon energy market
14 January 2026
Continent’s governments must seize the green hydrogen opportunity by refining policies and ramping up the development of supply chains and infrastructure
