Shell Energy Europe, a subsidiary of Shell, has signed two major 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, reports Energetica India.
Under a five-year agreement with Nordsee One — a joint venture between Northland Power and RWE — Shell will offtake about one-third of the output from the 332 MW offshore wind farm. A separate 10-year PPA with Solarkraftwerk Halenbeck-Rohlsdorf I/II will see Shell purchase around 75% of the electricity from a 230 MW solar project currently being built. Portions of the renewable power from both facilities will directly supply the 100 MW REFHYNE 2 electrolyser when it begins operations in 2027.
The electrolyser will produce renewable hydrogen to help decarbonise fuel and chemical production at the Rheinland energy and chemicals park, contributing to reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. The hydrogen will also support lower-carbon products used across Europe.
Andy Beard, Shell’s President of Hydrogen, said the agreements demonstrate how the company is pairing its trading capabilities with low-carbon technologies to cut emissions in its operations and customer products. “This is an exciting milestone in progressing the REFHYNE 2 project and showcases Shell’s strategy of delivering more value with less emissions,” he said.
Till Frohloff, Managing Director of Nordsee One, said the PPA highlights offshore wind’s ability to support German industrial decarbonisation. Karl-Heinz Remmers, co-CEO of Solarkraftwerk Halenbeck, noted that the project confirms subsidy-free solar power for large-scale industrial use is now a reality.
The REFHYNE 2 development is supported by EU binding targets for renewable hydrogen, Germany’s regulatory framework, and funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
