Air Liquide has announced €1bn ($1.05bn) plans to build two large-scale electrolyser projects in the Netherlands to supply TotalEnergies with clean hydrogen.
Combined, the two projects will produce up to 53,000 tonnes of “low-carbon and renewable” hydrogen per year from 450MW of electrolysis, powered by TotalEnergies’ renewable assets.
The first project, ELYgator, will see the French industrial gas major build, own and operate a 200MW electrolyser in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, which will produce up to 23,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year.
Expected to become operational at the end of 2027, ELYgator will supply TotalEnergies’ existing Antwerp industrial platform through a “long-term contract,” as well as Air Liquide’s other Dutch and Belgian customers through its existing hydrogen pipeline network.
The plant has already secured funding from the EU’s innovation fund and the Dutch important projects of common European interest (IPCEI) programme.
For a second 250MW project, Air Liquide and TotalEnergies will launch a new 50/50 joint venture to develop a plant in Zeeland.
Subject to approvals, the 250MW Zeeland project will produce up to 30,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually from 2029, using TotalEnergies’ renewables to supply its Zeeland refinery.
Both projects will use PEM electrolysers manufactured by Air Liquide and Siemens Energy’s joint venture.
Read more:Air Liquide-Siemens Energy JV ready for EU hydrogen goals amid slow industry progress
It comes after TotalEnergies in 2023 launched a call for tenders to secure a supply of 500,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year from 2030 to supply its European refineries.
Air Liquide has already agreed to supply the French oil and gas giant with 75% of the output of its 200MW Normand’Hy green hydrogen plant, which is expected to be commissioned in 2025.
The two companies alsosigned a 15-year agreement for the annual supply in Europe of 70,000 tonnes of green hydrogen starting in 2030 last summer.
“We are proud to lead the way on European renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production and to accompany TotalEnergies in [its] journey to decarbonising [its] industrial assets,” said Air Liquide Executive Committee member, Emilie Mouren-Renouard.
“These two projects will complete the five Air Liquide low-carbon units already in operation or construction in Europe.”
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