Neste’s renewable hydrogen project enters engineering phase

Neste’s 120MW electrolyser project to produce renewable hydrogen at its refinery in Porvoo, Finland has entered its basic engineering phase. When complete, the hydrogen created would be then used as a feedstock to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The firm is yet to confirm  whether  full construction of the project will go ahead, with a final decision to be made next year. If the investment is approved in early 2024, the Finnish sustainable fuel producer said that green (renewable) hydrogen production could start at the facility in 2026.

“The green hydrogen would be primarily used in our Porvoo refinery’s processes, where it would replace hydrogen produced from fossil feedstocks,” said Markku Korvenranta, executive vice president, Oil Products, Neste.

Neste said that hydrogen projects at Neste’s Porvoo refinery will continue to contribute to the EU green hydrogen value chain, for which it has already received recognition. In July 2022, Neste was awarded Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) status from the European Commission for its hydrogen developments. It also received €27.7m ($xm) in public funding from Business Finland for its renewable hydrogen projects at the Porvoo refinery the same year.

“Our project is one of the largest development projects to produce green hydrogen in the European refineries and it supports our goal to transform the Porvoo refinery to the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030.”

With hydrogen also capable of producing heat, Neste’s 120MW electrolyser project is also connected to a study on the use of renewable heat in community heating with Finnish energy company, Porvoon Energia.