World's Largest SOEC Electrolyzer Goes Online in Rotterdam
The world’s largest Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) system is now operational, delivering renewable hydrogen to a refinery in Rotterdam. The EU-supported project marks a significant milestone in decarbonizing Dutch industrial clusters and integrating renewable energy infrastructure into port districts.
- The 2.6 MW electrolyzer, located at Neste's renewable products refinery, can produce over 60 kg of renewable hydrogen per hour. It is a key component of the MultiPLHY demonstration project, a consortium including Neste, Sunfire, CEA, and ENGIE. German manufacturer Sunfire provided the high-temperature electrolyzer, while SMS group supplied the hydrogen processing unit. - The system utilizes Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) technology, which operates at a high temperature of 850°C. This allows it to use waste heat from the refinery, significantly reducing the amount of electricity required compared to other electrolysis technologies and boosting energy efficiency. - The project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program via the Clean Hydrogen Partnership (formerly the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking). This aligns with the Port of Rotterdam's broader strategy to become a major European hydrogen hub for production, import, and distribution to industrial users. - The renewable hydrogen produced will replace fossil-based hydrogen in the refinery's processes, a key step in lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel. Neste is currently expanding the Rotterdam refinery, with a goal of reaching 2.7 million tons of annual renewable product capacity by 2027. - This electrolyzer is part of a larger hydrogen infrastructure development in the port, which includes a new 32-kilometer hydrogen pipeline by Gasunie subsidiary Hynetwork, connecting producers on the Maasvlakte with industrial consumers. This network is envisioned to eventually connect with other industrial clusters in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. - The Port of Rotterdam Authority is actively facilitating the creation of a hydrogen value chain, including production, imports of hydrogen and carriers like ammonia, storage, and pipeline transport. By 2030, the port aims to supply 4.6 million tonnes of hydrogen to Europe annually through a combination of local production and imports.
