- The 10MW module is the first of 10 units to be deployed at the Sines Refinery for a total capacity of 100MW, one of the very few projects underway in Europe at this scale.
- The Sines project is an important first step in the decarbonization of the Sines Refinery and of key industries that are difficult to electrify.
Plug Power Inc., a global leader in comprehensive hydrogen solutions for the hydrogen economy, today announced the delivery of its first 10-megawatt (MW) GenEco™ electrolyzer array to Galp (OTCMKTS: GLPEY), Portugal’s leading integrated energy company. The array was delivered to Galp’s Sines Refinery, home of the largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyzer project underway in Europe.
The module is the first of 10 similar arrays with Hydrogen Processing Units (HPUs) to be delivered on site by early 2026 to deploy a total electrolyzer capacity of 100MW upon completion, in the first half of next year.
This project, Plug’s largest worldwide, will produce up to 15,000 tons of renewable hydrogen per year, replacing 20 percent of the grey hydrogen currently used at the Sines Refinery. This switch will reduce the Refinery’s greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 110,000 tons per year (Scope 1 and 2, CO2e).
“Plug is building the next generation of industrial energy solutions, and our collaboration with Galp shows that large-scale hydrogen is ready today,” said Andy Marsh, CEO, Plug. “This system will be a model for what’s possible across Europe’s refining sector and the broader energy industry.”
“Half of all grey hydrogen demand sits today in refineries and chemical plants,” said Ronald Doesburg, Galp’s EVP in charge of the Industrial business unit. “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,” he added.
Galp decided in September of 2023 to build a 100MW green hydrogen electrolysis unit and an HVO/SAF unit in its refinery, in a combined €650 million investment. Construction work started weeks after the final investment decision and is moving swiftly according to plan, one of the very few such projects happening on the ground.
Plug’s GenEco electrolyzer array is supported by a global supply chain and integrates components manufactured across several continents, including the U.S. and Europe. This approach combines regional manufacturing expertise with high-volume scalability to meet surging demand for clean hydrogen produced by PEM technology.
Plug has strengthened its expertise in the oil and gas sector through the acquisition of Frames Group, bringing more than 35 years of experience in process systems, gas treatment, and energy infrastructure. For the oil and gas market broadly, this project demonstrates that hydrogen can be deployed at a scale and pace that meets the industry’s operational demands, supports refinery decarbonization, and positions producers to stay competitive as low-carbon fuels grow their market share.
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