Sunfire has successfully installed the world’s first multi-megawatt high-temperature electrolyzer for the production of green hydrogen at Neste’s renewable products refinery in Rotterdam. Having met the refinery’s highest quality requirements, Sunfire has now achieved mechanical completion of the electrolysis system.

The pioneering MultiPLHY hydrogen project is entering its commissioning phase. Over the past few months, the electrolysis company Sunfire has installed twelve 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 SOEC (Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell) technology, which operates at temperatures of 850 °C. Utilizing industrial excess heat, the electrolyzer 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 electrolyzer will be integrated into Neste’s refinery processes and will become part of the on-site production of renewable products. Once operational, the electrolyzer will produce more than 60 kg of green hydrogen per hour. “We are proud to soon demonstrate our multi-megawatt electrolyzer 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 center CEA, SMS Group company Paul Wurth and ENGIE. The project is funded by the EU Clean Hydrogen Partnership.