Worley is partnering with Shell on two projects that will help decarbonize its operations in Germany.
The Wesseling site – located in the Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland near Cologne – plans to stop processing crude oils in 2025.
The first project we’re working on is converting the site’s hydrocracker into a base oil production unit, to make high quality lubricants such as engine and transmission oils.
The production capacity of the plant will be around 300,000 tonnes per year, which is around 9 percent of EU demand for base oils and 40 percent of Germany’s demand for base oils.
By repurposing the hydrocracker and introducing a high degree of electrification, the project is expected to reduce Shell’s scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by around 620,000 tonnes a year.
We were the primary engineering partner working on the Assess, Select, and Define phases of the project. Now, as the project moves into the detailed design and procurement stages, our efforts are focused on providing the quality services needed to meet the necessary standards for functionality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
We’ll execute this phase of the project from our office in Cologne with support from our Global Integrated Delivery team in Mumbai.
Artist impression of the new base oil production unit
Helping to deliver REFHYNE II
We’re also working with Shell to enable renewable hydrogen production at the Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland.
The REFHYNE II project will install a 100 MW electrolyzer that is expected to produce up to 44,000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen every day, which will be used to produce energy products such as transport fuels with a lower carbon intensity and to help further decarbonize its operations. The electrolyzer will be based on the 10 MW electrolyzer, REFHYNE I, which started up in 2021 and uses the same technology.
We provided early front-end engineering and design (pre-FEED), FEED, detailed design and critical integration to the existing infrastructure.
The project recently achieved a final investment decision (FID) in July 2024.
'These projects build on our long-term collaboration with Shell at its Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland. Our deep domain knowledge of Shell’s asset, local delivery capabilities and sector expertise enables us to support Shell’s transformation efforts and investments. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our long-standing partnership with Shell in Germany,' said André van Drunen, Managing Director, Germany.
Marijn Bezuijen, Project Director Rheinland, said, 'The Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland is on a transformation journey to help Shell become a net zero emissions company by 2050. In the coming years, we will be working on key projects to achieve this. I am delighted that we are once again drawing on Worley’s expertise to help us make them a success.'
Artist impression of the REFHYNE II electrolyzer
Source: Worley
