- The FEED study for the electrolysis installation will take nine months and aims for a 100MW capacity, expandable to 500MW.
- Rotterdam industry consumes 77PJ of hydrogen annually, about 40% of the Netherlands' total.
- The project connects to the HyTransport.RTM pipeline and the Delta Corridor pipeline bundle.
- The Port of Rotterdam aims to be carbon neutral by 2050, with 20 tonnes of hydrogen expected to flow through the port.
Agreement for Green Hydrogen Production
Energy company Uniper and the Port of Rotterdam Authority have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop green hydrogen production at Uniper's Maasvlakte location. This initiative follows a feasibility study and aligns with the planned hydrogen infrastructure and increasing demand for sustainable hydrogen in Rotterdam's petrochemical industry.
Feasibility Study and Infrastructure
The joint feasibility study indicates that the Maasvlakte site is ideal for large-scale green hydrogen production using North Sea wind power. The hydrogen plant will connect to the HyTransport.RTM pipeline, linking it to the national hydrogen infrastructure and the Delta Corridor pipeline bundle, which supplies hydrogen to chemical clusters in Moerdijk, Geleen (Chemelot), and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Transition to Carbon Neutrality
Currently, hydrogen is produced from natural gas, resulting in significant CO2 emissions. Rotterdam's industry consumes about 77PJ of hydrogen annually, approximately 40% of the Netherlands' total. Transitioning to green hydrogen is a crucial step towards carbon neutrality, potentially phasing out grey hydrogen production with sufficient storage capacity and a robust hydrogen transport network.
Next Steps and Future Plans
The next phase involves a nine-month FEED (front-end engineering & design) study to develop the electrolysis installation, initially targeting 100MW capacity, with plans to expand to 500MW. This study will inform the conceptual design, project planning, and budget, enabling the first phase to be outsourced to specialist suppliers and contractors. Efforts will also focus on obtaining permits, securing financial support, and preparing for an investment decision in 2022.
European Hydrogen Value Chain
The Port of Rotterdam aims to be carbon neutral by 2050 while maintaining its role as an energy hub. By then, it expects approximately 20 tonnes of hydrogen to flow through the port to consumers in the Netherlands and beyond, supporting the transition to sustainable energy across Northwestern Europe.
