Shell’s REFHYNE electrolysis plant at the Rheinland complex
Shell advances to FID on Cologne electrolyser
Investment in 100MW green hydrogen facility in Germany comes as oil major’s wider transition strategy comes under scrutiny
Shell has signalled its readiness to invest at scale in renewable hydrogen by taking FID on the 100MW REFHYNE II electrolyser project at its Rheinland refining complex near Cologne in Germany. The move comes amid scrutiny of Shell’s wider transition strategy after it recently paused a major biofuels project in Rotterdam, incurring a charge of up to $1b. The company has also said it expects significant losses in its renewables and energy solutions business in the near term. The oil major’s FID on REFHYNE II puts the proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser on track to start up in 2027. Its output of 44,000kg/d of green hydrogen will be used in production of road fuels and other products, h
Also in this section
9 March 2026
Hydrogen has not stalled in the UK because the technology does not work. The problem is that the system around it does not yet move at the speed required
4 March 2026
Turmoil in Middle East reminds nascent clean hydrogen sector that its future prospects are dependent on global energy markets and geopolitics
25 February 2026
Low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia development is advancing much more slowly and unevenly than once expected, with high costs and policy uncertainty thinning investment. Meanwhile, surging energy demand is reinforcing the role of natural gas and LNG as the backbone of the global energy system, panellists at LNG2026 said
18 February 2026
Norwegian energy company has dropped a major hydrogen project and paused its CCS expansion plans as demand fails to materialise
