Rotterdam to welcome Europe’s largest green hydrogen plant

According to Shell, It will be operational in 2025

Shell will build in The Netherlands the largest renewable hydrogen plant in Europe, the company informed in a press release on 6 July. The management had reportedly taken a final investment decision to implement the project. Said plant will become operational in 2025, and will be located at the largest port of Europe – Rotterdam, on Maasvlakte 2.

Europe’s hydrogen hub

The new facility will bear the name Holland Hydrogen I and is expected to produce up to 60,000 kilograms of hydrogen every day. The power of the electrolyser will come from the offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust (noord), which is partly owned by Shell.

The green hydrogen produced in the plant will supply the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam, through the HyTransPort pipeline1, where it will substitute some of the grey hydrogen used in the refinery.

The above-described process will partially decarbonise the facility’s production of energy products like diesel and jet fuel. Moreover, the press release further points out, that renewable hydrogen supply can also be directed toward heavy-duty trucks as the market grows.

“Holland Hydrogen I demonstrates how new energy solutions can work together to meet society’s need for cleaner energy. It is also another example of Shell’s own efforts and commitment to become a net-zero emissions business by 2050,” commented Anna Mascolo, Executive Vice President, Emerging Energy Solutions at Shell, as quoted on the company website.

She added: “Renewable hydrogen will play a pivotal role in the energy system of the future and this project is an important step in helping hydrogen fulfil that potential”.

The Port of Rotterdam takes pride in being Europe’s Hydrogen Hub even before the installation of the new green hydrogen plant in 2025. The city welcomed the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2022, and the local Port Authority is working on the introduction of a large-scale hydrogen network across the port complex.

The goal is to make the second-largest Dutch city an international hub for hydrogen production, import, application and distribution to other countries in Northwestern Europe. The hub will also enable Rotterdam to maintain its position as an important energy port for that region in the future.