Air Liquide has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Statkraft that will enable it to use wind power to supply its electrolyser plant in Oberhausen in Germany.
The PPA covers 45MW of wind output that will supply the 20MW green hydrogen plant, dubbed “Trailblazer”, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2023.
The electrolyser will be integrated into the existing infrastructure of Air Liquide in the Rhine-Ruhr-valley to supply key industries and the transport sector with renewable hydrogen and oxygen.
Air Liquide will be supplied with renewable energy from Statkraft’s portfolio of onshore wind farms in Germany starting in 2024 for three years.
This PPA will allow Air Liquide to certify the hydrogen as renewable and to achieve full REDII-compliance, so the customers will be able to market products with a lower-carbon footprint.
Gilles Le Van, Vice President Large Industries and Energy Transition for Air Liquide in Central Europe, said: “With this new contract, Air Liquide takes another step towards the energy transition, supplying its operations with renewable electricity.
“Securing access to renewable energy is a key element of Air Liquide’s decarbonization and Sustainable Development strategy.
“It allows us to meet the growing demand from our customers for competitive low-carbon solutions.”
Sascha Schröder, Vice President Central European Origination at Statkraft, added: “This is our first green power purchase agreement that enables the production of renewable hydrogen.
“With our wind farm portfolio, we were able to offer Air Liquide a demand-driven solution at competitive prices.”