RWE has signed a letter of intent with Dutch chemicals company OCI’s production facility BioMCN for the supply of green hydrogen from the former’s Eemshydrogen project at Eemshaven in the Netherlands.
Eemshydrogen will also deliver green hydrogen to Evonik, with the latter and BioMCN planning to use the gas in business processes for making sustainable products.
RWE said the conclusion of the agreements is a next step in the development and realisation of a 50MW electrolyser, directly connected to RWE’s 162MW Westereems onshore wind farm in Eemshaven.
The German energy company started a feasibility study in 2019 aimed at producing green hydrogen in Eemshaven.
The 50MW electrolyser connected to Westereems is the first phase of Eemshydrogen project.
Depending on market developments and regulations, the electrolysis capacity can be further scaled up, RWE said.
The company and developers of electrolysers are evaluating technical options for producing hydrogen in a flexible way, it said.
A final investment decision for the project is expected to be taken in 2021, with production of green hydrogen possibly starting in 2024.
RWE Generation chief executive Roger Miesen (pictured) said: “Green hydrogen offers huge potential for the energy transition and RWE, as well.
“We have the know-how and the renewables plants to produce green hydrogen ourselves.
“And thanks to our energy trading unit, we can operate electrolysers optimally in line with the market’s requirements.
“It is important to get the hydrogen economy moving quickly for the Netherlands and Europe to keep the competitive advantage in the global market place.
“RWE is determined to play an active part in creating a hydrogen economy.”