The Port of Rotterdam edges closer to its hydrogen ambition with the siting of Europe’s largest electrolyser: Shell’s Holland Hydrogen 1.
The electrolyser, on which construction is under way, is the first of what is intended as a gigawatt scale hydrogen production development at the Conversion Park on the Port’s Maasvlakte 2 site, with a scheduled 2025 operation date.
The facility, with an output of up to 60,000kg of green hydrogen per day, will be powered from the Shell-Eneco 759MW Hollandse Kust (Noord) offshore wind farm, which is also under construction, and will supply Shell’s nearby Pernis Energy and Chemicals Park, where the hydrogen will support the decarbonisation of fuels production as well as being directed for heavy transport use.
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“With this programme, we are focussed on renewable power and electrification in the port and we want to help the companies to decarbonise by ensuring all the elements are there,” says Randolf Weterings, Port of Rotterdam Electrification and Hydrogen manager.
Actions include developing access to sufficient renewable power to produce green hydrogen and providing an open access hydrogen pipeline infrastructure for local producers and users with connections to national and international networks.
Lijs Groenendaal, Shell’s Hydrogen Business and Project Development manager, explains that the new electrolyser is a significant step up from the current megawatt scale electrolysers. As such it presents challenges to build and operate but also serves as an “enabler” with its lead in the development of the Port’s hydrogen infrastructure.
“Rotterdam is where it all comes together,” she says.
“We think hydrogen is going to play a large role in decarbonising our fuel products and mobility. In Rotterdam, we’ve got the supply and demand – the customers and production, in one place, so it’s a unique spot to build all the infrastructure.”
Do you want to learn more about the hydrogen developments in the Port of Rotterdam and the energy transition in the region?
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