Green hydrogen production from windfarms

It is looking to offer out the opportunity exclusively for the party that wins the tender for the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm later this year and wants to produce green hydrogen on a large scale in Rotterdam.

”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 200 to 250 MW at the Maasvlakte,” said Allard Castelein, CEO, Port of Rotterdam Authority.

”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.’

Big plans

In the procedure for plot Beta, the Minister for Climate and Energy is encouraging companies to smartly integrate wind energy into the national energy system. The production of hydrogen directly on the coast is a logical solution, as it avoids additional load on the high-voltage network.

Several companies have plans to realise a total of some 1,350 MW (1.35 GW) of electrolysis in Rotterdam already. The ambition of the port authority is to achieve 2 to 2.5 GW of electrolysis by 2030. That will be within reach with this new development. The national government is aiming for 4GW nationwide by 2030.

In addition, more and more windfarms will be built in the North Sea in the coming years. Part of the electricity they generate will be used to make green hydrogen: Electrolysis allows water to be split into hydrogen and oxygen.

Making hydrogen directly on the coast is appealing, since it does not require additional high-voltage cables on land. It is also attractive to produce where the main customers are industry.

In late March, the Minister for Climate and Energy announced the draft ministerial regulations for IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone Beta. It will have a capacity of 2GW and should be ready around 2028. The formal tender process will start in the second half of 2023.

Rotterdam Port Authority is also exploring the possibility of connecting the Maasvlakte hydrogen plants to regional heat networks in the future. This will eventually allow them to use ‘green’ heat to heat houses, greenhouses and offices. 

The plan is that both the windfarm and the hydrogen plant should be ready around 2028.