With the global calls to integrate the renewable energy sector reaching new highs as of late, a litany of nations are turning to the often overlooked energy generation potential of the hydrogen sector. Galp, one of Portugal’s leading integrated energy companies, has received the first of many electrolyzers for its 100 MW green hydrogen development at the Sines refinery from hydrogen specialist Plug Power. Plug Power has become a market leader in the hydrogen sector and has now progressed in its planned delivery of essential electrolyzers for Galp’s Sines Refinery.
Hydrogen has become the envy of the renewable energy sector’s vast available options
For far too long, the world has stagnated in its adoption of the hydrogen sector, but that reality is slowly changing thanks to new and exciting projects that will undoubtedly reshape the global energy market. Galp has been developing its Sines refinery to make use of green hydrogen production instead of the gray hydrogen it currently uses.
Galp has noted the successful receipt of the first electrolyzer unit for its Sines refinery from Plug Power. The new 10 MW module is only the first of ten set to be delivered to the Galp Sines refinery over the coming months and years. The first module was delivered to the Sines refinery on time and will become the home of the largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyzer project underway in Europe.
The plan, according to Galp, is for the Sines refinery to deploy a total electrolyzer capacity of 100MW once completed, marking a new era of hydrogen production across the European energy market.
“Plug is building the next generation of industrial energy solutions, and our collaboration with Galp shows that large-scale hydrogen is ready today. This system will be a model for what’s possible across Europe’s refining sector and the broader energy industry.” – Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power
The European proclivity for the hydrogen sector has become all too clear in recent years
Europe has long been the home of the renewable energy market and now boasts one of the largest renewable energy portfolios in the world. Plug Power, delivering its first 10-megawatt (MW) GenEco™ electrolyzer array to the Portuguese energy utility, sets the stage for the continued embrace of the renewable energy sector in Europe.
The delivery of the essential electorlyzer comes as other regions of the world have all but ended their renewable energy ambitions, such as the United States. The US has been rolling back the progress made by the previous administration in advancing the renewable energy sector, instead focusing on the traditional oil and gas sector to fill the gap and increase energy generation.
With Denmark bringing online the 20 MW HySynergy green hydrogen facility and the delivery of the first electrolyzer for the Galp project in Portugal, the European sentiment towards the renewable energy sector has become clear.
“Half of all grey hydrogen demand sits today in refineries and chemical plants. With our first 100 MW, we will have started the decarbonisation of our Sines refinery. It’s a decisive first step for Galp, but also for the industry.” – Ronald Doesburg, Galp’s EVP in charge of the Industrial business unit
Hydrogen could become the fuel of tomorrow that will bring the world into a new era of energy production
Building on the successful delivery of the first electrolyzer unit for the Galp Sines refinery is the news that Plug Power has also started installing a 5 MW electrolyzer for the H2 Hollandia project in the Netherlands. With the global market shifting to clean energy production, hydrogen will play a vital role in meeting clean energy and emission reduction mandates agreed to by the vast majority of nations around the world. Portugal is redefining the possibilities of clean energy by advancing the Galp Sines refinery hydrogen project.
