Port of Rotterdam Authority to Develop Large-Scale Green Hydrogen Plant
The Port of Rotterdam Authority has announced plans to develop an 11-hectare site on the Maasvlakte for the construction of a large-scale green hydrogen plant. The move comes in anticipation of the tender for the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm later this year. As part of the plot Beta procedure, the Minister for Climate and Energy is urging companies to incorporate wind energy into the energy system intelligently. Direct hydrogen production on the coast offers a viable solution, as it bypasses the need for additional load on the high-voltage network. The wind farm and hydrogen plant are expected to be operational by 2028.
Allard Castelein, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO, stated that the construction of a 1 GW hydrogen plant signifies a significant leap in green hydrogen production. He added that several companies are either building or have advanced plans for 200 to 250 MW electrolysers at the Maasvlakte. The Port Authority's ambition is to achieve 2 to 2.5 GW of electrolysis by 2030, while the national government aims for 4 GW nationwide by the same year.
The IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone Beta, which will have a capacity of 2 GW, is slated for completion around 2028. The formal tender process will begin in the second half of 2023, with multiple parties already expressing interest. The Port of Rotterdam Authority will reserve 11 hectares on the Maasvlakte exclusively for the winning party that wishes to produce green hydrogen at a large scale in Rotterdam.
The chosen site can accommodate up to 1 GW of electrolysis and is situated next to the future location of Tennet's Amaliahaven high-voltage substation. This proximity will allow the efficient conversion of green electricity into hydrogen without entering the electricity grid, easing the load on the grid. Additionally, the new hydrogen pipeline will run alongside the site, enabling efficient transportation to customers. The Port Authority is also exploring the possibility of connecting Maasvlakte hydrogen plants to regional heat networks, further enhancing the site's sustainability.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs is focusing on different aspects in different tender procedures for wind farms, emphasizing nature development in conjunction with wind farms at IJmuiden Ver Zone Alpha and system integration at Zone Beta. The latter entails assessing how a plan integrates into the overall Dutch energy system, making green hydrogen production a logical choice. To allocate the site for hydrogen production, the Port Authority is consulting with the municipality and DCMR to amend the current zoning plan, which is designated for container storage.
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