Shell Energy Europe Limited, a subsidiary of Shell plc, has signed two power purchase agreements (PPAs) in Germany to secure renewable electricity for the REFHYNE 2 hydrogen electrolyser under construction at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland. One agreement covers around one-third of the output from the 332 MW Nordsee One offshore wind farm, a joint venture owned and operated by Northland Power and RWE, for five years.
A second agreement spans ten years and will supply around three-quarters of the power generated by a 230 MW solar project being built by Solarkraftwerk Halenbeck-Rohlsdorf. Power from both projects will supply the 100 MW renewable-proton exchange membrane electrolyser when it begins operations in 2027. REFHYNE 2 follows a final investment decision taken in 2024 and is expected to produce up to 16,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually. Shell has partnered with ITM Power (Trading) Ltd, ITM Power Germany GmbH, Linde GmbH, TECNALIA, ETM, SINTEF AS, and CONCAWE on the facility.
Furthermore, the electrolyser facility will generate renewable hydrogen for use at the Rheinland site, supplying various energy products produced there. The project is supported by European Union (EU) targets for renewable hydrogen use and national regulatory measures in Germany. It has also received funding through the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The hydrogen output is intended to support efforts to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions at the site.
