European Chemical Industry News & Insights

Air Liquide to Build CO₂ Capture Unit in Rotterdam

At a glance
  • The CO₂ capture unit will be operational in 2026.
  • Captured CO₂ will be stored in North Sea gas fields.
  • Porthos aims to reduce emissions by 2.5 million tons annually.
  • The project uses Cryocap™ technology for CO₂ capture.

Project Overview

Air Liquide will build, own, and operate a world-scale carbon capture unit in Rotterdam, Netherlands, using its Cryocap™ technology. The unit will be installed at the company's hydrogen production plant in the port of Rotterdam and connected to the Porthos carbon capture and storage infrastructure.

Technology and Process

The unit will capture CO₂ from the existing hydrogen plant using a cryogenic process. The captured CO₂ will be transported through the Porthos infrastructure and permanently stored in depleted gas fields in the North Sea, approximately 20 kilometers off the coast.

Operational Timeline

The carbon capture unit is scheduled to be operational by 2026. This project will enable Air Liquide to supply significantly decarbonized hydrogen to its long-term customers.

Environmental Impact

Porthos aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by 2.5 million tons per year, equivalent to around 10% of the current Rotterdam industry CO₂ emissions. The European Union has recognized Porthos as a major cross-border infrastructure project, contributing to energy and climate policy objectives.