Sunfire has successfully installed one of the world's first multi-megawatt high-temperature electrolysers for the production of green hydrogen at Neste's renewable products refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Having met the refinery's highest quality requirements, Sunfire has now achieved mechanical completion of the electrolysis system.
The MultiPLHY hydrogen project is entering its commissioning phase. Over the past few months, the electrolysis company Sunfire has installed 12 electrolysis modules at the refinery, which together make up the world's largest high-temperature electrolysis system (2.6 MW) installed in an industrial environment.
The system is based on Sunfire's efficient solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology, which operates at temperatures of 850°C. Utilising industrial excess heat, the electrolyser processes steam to hydrogen with the highest conversion efficiency. Compared to other electrolysis solutions, Sunfire's SOEC technology is the most efficient on the market because the high-temperature process significantly reduces the amount of electricity required.
Sunfire's electrolyser will be integrated into Neste's refinery processes and will become part of the onsite production of renewable products. Once operational, the electrolyser will produce more than 60 kg/hr of green hydrogen. "We are proud to soon demonstrate our multi-megawatt electrolyser in an industrial refinery environment. Groundbreaking hydrogen projects like MultiPLHY are laying the foundation to secure Europe's position as a global leader in clean technologies," says Nils Aldag, CEO of Sunfire.
In addition to Sunfire, the MultiPLHY consortium includes Neste, the French research centre CEA, SMS Group company Paul Wurth, and ENGIE. The project is funded by the EU Clean Hydrogen Partnership.