Neste has entered the execution phase of the MultiPLHY collaboration with its partners.
The MultiPLHY project seeks to develop, integrate, and operate the world’s first multi-megawatt-scale (2.4 MW) high-temperature electrolyzer system at Neste’s renewable products refinery in Rotterdam in order to demonstrate the production of green hydrogen for refinery activities. Sunfire developed the high-temperature electrolyzer technology.
The MultiPLHY project began in early 2020 and has since finished the conceptual design phase while finalizing the detailed engineering. Neste will then proceed with the construction phase. Along with Neste and Sunfire, the MultiPLHY consortium is comprised of the following partners: CEA, a French public research institution; Paul Wurth, an engineering firm and technology provider; and ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services.
“As part of Neste’s growth strategy we continue to focus on innovation, in which renewable hydrogen and Power-to-X are two of our key development areas. Demonstrating green hydrogen production at our Rotterdam refinery within the MultiPLHY project is one of the initiatives enabling us to further drive the development of new sustainable technologies,” says Lars Peter Lindfors, Senior Vice President of Innovation at Neste.
Demonstrating high-temperature electrolyzer technology is a significant advancement in the field of Power-to-X. Sunfire will deliver the multi-megawatt electrolyzer as part of the project. The electrolyzer will be based on the unique SOEC (solid oxide electrolysis cell) technology and will operate at high temperatures of 850 °C. Due to the use of heat, the high-temperature electrolyzer consumes substantially less electricity than a conventional electrolyzer to generate one kilogram of green hydrogen.
“We look forward to realizing the implementation and commissioning of our SOEC electrolyzer. Together with the strong MultiPLHY consortium, we will demonstrate an innovative solution on how the refining industry can become more sustainable,” says Sunfire CEO Nils Aldag.
“Renewable hydrogen is an essential low-emission technology for the decarbonization of industrial processes. Accelerating concrete hydrogen projects, like MultiPLHY, is key to identifying potential disruptors and making this SOEC technology operationally and commercially viable at scale,” says Michèle Azalbert, Managing Director at ENGIE Green Hydrogen.
