The Port of Rotterdam Authority is developing an 11hectacre site on the Maasvlakte (pictured) suitable for a green hydrogen plant capable of generating up to 1GW.
This site is located next to where Tennet’s Amaliahaven (380 kV) high-voltage substation will be built.
This is the destination of the 2GW DC cable from the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone Beta.
All green electricity converted directly into hydrogen does not enter the electricity grid, thus avoiding additional load on the grid.
In addition, the new hydrogen pipeline will soon run alongside the site. The gas produced here can thus be efficiently transported to customers. The site is also close to the Evides water pipeline.
Finally, the Port Authority is exploring the possibility of connecting the Maasvlakte hydrogen plants to regional heat networks. This will eventually allow them to use ‘green’ heat in houses, greenhouses and offices the port said.
The proposals are in response to the tender for the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm later this year.
In the procedure for plot Beta, the Minister for Climate and Energy is encouraging companies to smartly integrate much of the wind energy into the energy system.
The production of hydrogen directly on the coast is a logical solution, as it avoids additional load on the high-voltage network, Port of Rotterdam said.
The wind farm and hydrogen plant should be ready around 2028.
Port of Rotterdam Authority chief executive Allard Castelein said: “The construction of a hydrogen plant with a capacity of 1GW is the next leap in scale in the production of green hydrogen.
“Several companies are now building, or have advanced plans to build, electrolysers with a capacity of 200MW to 250MW at the Maasvlakte.
“These would currently be the largest in Europe, but we already want to accommodate the next generation of hydrogen plants. These are expected to be five times larger.”