One of Europe’s largest energy companies, Uniper, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority are investigating the feasibility of large-scale production of green hydrogen using electricity from renewable sources such as offshore wind
Together they are investigating the development of a green hydrogen plant in the Maasvlakte area in Rotterdam and have expressed the desire to have the facility operational on the Uniper site there by 2025.
If it goes ahead, the Rotterdam facility would have an initial capacity of 100 MW and would be expanded to 500 MW. The feasibility study will be completed mid-year.
Uniper chief executive Andreas Schierenbeck said, “Our location at Maasvlakte is the perfect place for large-scale production of green hydrogen. This is where everything comes together: large amounts of renewable energy, the required infrastructure and industrial customers.”
Port of Rotterdam Authority chief executive Allard Castelein said, “Production of green hydrogen on the Uniper site fits in perfectly with the strategy of the port to make the industry more sustainable. Green hydrogen is a sustainable alternative to natural gas to realise high temperatures for use in industry. It is also an important sustainable feedstock for the chemical industry.”
Uniper and the port said Maasvlakte “is an ideal location” for the production of green hydrogen. “Renewable electricity from offshore windfarms will come ashore here, and various relevant facilities are already available on the Uniper site.”
After successful prequalification for the EU Important Projects of Common European Interest programme, conceptual design and the technical parameters of the new hydrogen plant will be developed in the coming months.
Uniper and Port of Rotterdam will also investigate the potential market for sustainable hydrogen in the Rotterdam port area and in Germany, and in due course expect it will be possible to supply green hydrogen to major industrial complexes in North Rhine-Westphalia using existing pipelines. The project team is also looking at options for import, storage, and export at Maasvlakte.
Uniper has approximately 34 GW of installed generation capacity and is active in power generation in Europe and Russia. It is also a global energy trader, with a diversified gas portfolio that makes it one of Europe’s leading gas companies.
The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany and is the third-largest listed German utility. It aims to be become carbon-neutral in Europe by 2035.
Mr Schierenbeck recently expressed his opinion that for decarbonisation, “hydrogen is the most promising solution.”
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