INEOS to build large-scale green hydrogen electrolyser in Germany

Chemicals giant INEOS has unveiled plans to construct an industrial-scale 100MW electrolyser to produce green hydrogen at its site in Cologne, Germany, as the country moves towards its legally enshrined goal of net-zero by 2045.

The first stage of the €2 billion project, which is being undertaken by INEOS subsidiary INOVYN, will see the green hydrogen produced at the site being used to power green ammonia production. Ammonia is one of the largest global chemical products and the company says that a transition towards green production methods could lead to a 1% per year reduction in global emissions. 

Read more: Making net-zero possible

The project will also look at the development of synthetic fuels using power-to-methanol, which will also be produced on a large scale at the Cologne chemical park.

The company added that it also intends to use carbon capture to aid the decarbonisation of the chemicals sector and, together with green hydrogen, to produce more sustainable methanol

As well as ammonia production, the green hydrogen will be used to power other onsite processes at the INEOS facility, to the chemical park's operating company Currenta, as well as other users in the region.

The project's overall aim is to reduce direct and indirect carbon emissions by over 120,000 tonnes per year.

Hans Casier, CEO INEOS Phenol & INEOS Nitriles said: "This development builds on INEOS leading role in the decarbonisation of industry with green ammonia, and methanol production from green hydrogen.  The transition is driven by the growing demand for low-carbon and affordable energy sources."

Read more: The colours of the hydrogen rainbow

The project has also passed the first phase of the EU's IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) process, which looks to bring together key players from a range of sectors into consortia so as to better face the market challenges and systemic failures as it moves towards decarbonisation.

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