HYDROGEN

MULTIPLHY, producing renewable hydrogen on a large scale to decarbonize a biorefinery

By ENGIE - 05 May 2020 - 13:26

A pioneer in the field, MULTIPLHY is the world's first multi-megawatt scale high-temperature electrolysis project for highly efficient hydrogen production in an industrial refining process.

 

Result of a European consortium in which ENGIE is a stakeholder, MULTIPLHY marks the demonstration to build and operate the world’s first multi-megawatt scale high-temperature electrolyser to generate green hydrogen for the production of high-quality biofuels.

 

By the end of 2024, about 960 tons of renewable hydrogen will have to be produced,, thus avoiding the emission of approximately 8,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

 

High-temperature electrolysis allows hydrogen to be produced from water in the form of vapour instead of liquid water as is the case in conventional electrolysis, thus increasing the efficiency of the process.
The renewable hydrogen produced in this way will replace the "grey" hydrogen currently generated from methane and will help decarbonize industrial processes.

 

Located at the Neste biorefinery in Rotterdam, this high-temperature electrolyser will have a nominal power input of 2.6 MW and a hydrogen production capacity of 60 kg/h, reaching an efficiency at least 20% higher than a low-temperature electrolyser.

 

ENGIE contribute its expertise at all stages of the project, including the engineering and preparation of the site for operational commissioning, the integration of the electrolyser, the definition of the facility testing protocol, participating in the supply of energy, developing the economic model of the facility, and obtaining the certification of renewable hydrogen through the CertifHy system.

 

“ENGIE is delighted to be part of MULTIPLHY to decarbonize Neste’s bio refinery.  This is the world’s first multi-megawatt high-temperature electrolysis project to produce hydrogen.  We will contribute our expertise and increase our knowledge to extend ENGIE’s renewable hydrogen-based solutions, and enable our customers’ zero-carbon journey,” said Michèle Azalbert, Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE’s Hydrogen Business Unit. 

 

MULTIPLHY is part of the European Horizon 2020 program and has obtained an overall funding of €6.9 million, with a multi-disciplinary consortium including Neste, the world's leading provider of renewable diesel and renewable jet fuel, the CEA, the French research organisation as key technology partner, plant builder Paul Wurth and the cleantech company Sunfire.