On the 2 July the world’s first plant producing green hydrogen - the REFHYNE hydrogen electrolysis plant- was opened in the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland. “An energy project of this scale is hugely important for the success of the Energiewende – in Germany as well as in Europe,” believes Shell. The historic launch of one of the biggest PEM electrolysers in the world promises to reduce the carbon footprint sustainably and significantly in future with the help of hydrogen technology.

Red carpet treatment for the big occasion: 100 invited guests attended the event held under extensive Covid-19 hygiene measures. At the same time, the grand opening was streamed live in the net with numerous viewers across Europe. Media interest was huge with a flurry of flashbulbs. In addition to the guests of honour, headed by the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia Armin Laschet, the Managing Director of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries, Kerstin Andreae, the Member of the European Parliament and member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Jens Geier, and the Executive Director of the EU Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, Bart Biebuyck, the event was attended by the senior representatives of Royal Dutch, Shell Deutschland, Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland. The audience was a who's who of leading representatives from the world of politics, business, industry, associations and institutions. Shell employees who work in the plant and the neighbourhood were also invited to the tour.

welcome GmbH is grateful and very proud to have developed and realised this event, which grew constantly in scale and importance, in near-record time in collaboration with its partners and a strong Shell team from Hamburg and the Rhineland.