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