Plug Power will construct a 35-ton-per-day green hydrogen generation plant in the heart of Europe, at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Plug signed a 30-year concession agreement to construct the plant at the second-largest port in Europe, located in Belgium. On 28 acres of leased property, Plug intends to construct a 100-megawatt green hydrogen plant utilizing its own electrolyzer and liquefaction technologies. Plug will supply the European market with up to 12,500 tons of liquid and gaseous green hydrogen per year.
The construction of the facility will commence following completion of the permitting procedure, which is scheduled to occur in late 2023. Late in 2024, initial production of green hydrogen is anticipated, with plant commissioning occurring in 2025.
“As Europe grapples with the challenges of climate change and energy security, our agreement with Port of Antwerp-Bruges will deliver much-needed natively generated, green hydrogen to local markets,” said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug. “The energy crisis in Europe resulting from geopolitical risks has accelerated the demand for green hydrogen development projects.”
Minister-President of Flanders Jan Jambon noted: “Hydrogen plays an important role in the energy transition and at the same time offers many economic and societal opportunities for Flanders. Due to the strategic location of our ports and the expertise of our companies, research centers and educational institutions, we have all the assets to become the hydrogen hub of Western Europe. An opportunity that we must not miss. Plug’s choice for Antwerp is the result of the strong relationship that I, the Flemish Government, Flanders Investment & Trade, and the Port have built with the company. At the same time, it confirms the role that Flanders plays in renewable energy. I am therefore very pleased to welcome Plug in Flanders.”
Belgium’s Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten said: “Belgium is determined to play a pioneering role in the breakthrough of large-scale green hydrogen. It is an objective that is well reflected in the federal hydrogen vision and strategy ‘Green hydrogen for a clean industry.’ That strategy is built on four pillars: positioning Belgium as an import and transit hub in Europe, becoming a leader in hydrogen, establishing a robust hydrogen market and investing in cooperation as a key success factor. Companies like Plug, who integrate their activities into our federal strategy, are the best example that we are moving in the right direction. This way, we can achieve our climate goals to reduce greenhouse gasses by 55% in 2030 and become the first climate neutral continent by 2050. This will be a strategy that pays off for Belgium, for employment and for the climate.”
Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges, added: “The signing of Plug Power is a confirmation of the attractiveness of our port and NextGen District. Their project is exactly what we have in mind when it comes to circular economy. We are giving hydrogen every opportunity as an energy carrier and fuel and are therefore committing ourselves as an active pioneer in the hydrogen economy. I thank Plug Power for its trust and all parties involved.”
A hub for hydrogen in the future
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is strategically situated in Europe. It provides transit links to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France from its location in the heart of Europe’s largest chemical industry cluster, close to the North Sea. Europe’s capital, Brussels, is less than an hour’s drive away.
The port area is also one of the most active logistical centers in Europe, carrying 289 million tons of maritime freight, 24 million tons of rail freight, and 108,5 million tons of barge freight annually. 60% of the purchasing power of Europe is located within 300 kilometers.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, which is slated to become a significant hub for hydrogen in Europe, aspires to be a model port for climate-neutral infrastructure. Plug is committed to playing a vital role in assisting Port of Antwerp-Bruges reach this goal through its new green hydrogen facility.
Ideal location for production of hydrogen
With an electric interconnection point less than a mile away, the site position allows for a rapid supply of electricity from on-site and adjacent wind turbines generating dozens of megawatts. In addition, the site provides water, road, rail, and pipeline connections for green hydrogen distribution to clients. Along the site, an open-access hydrogen pipeline will be constructed, and Plug has contracted with Fluxys to conduct a connection feasibility study to the pipeline, which will be part of a European open-access hydrogen backbone.
Plug will construct in the port’s NextGen District, a zone dedicated to businesses that support the circular economy. Plug is exploring collaborations to complete the circular usage of wastewater emitted during the manufacture of green hydrogen by using the cluster currently being formed in the NextGen district.
Multiple clients at the port will get the hydrogen produced on-site
At the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, more than 600 hectares of covered warehouse space supports heavy manufacturing companies. Plug will contribute to the decarbonization of the port’s logistics processes through material handling solutions, fuel cell vans through HYVIA – a Plug and Renault joint venture – and stationary power solutions for shore power.
With more than 15 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity, North Sea nations are important producers of wind power. As part of a recently signed cooperation agreement, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands have pledged to increase their capacity to 65 GW by 2030 and 150 GW by 2050. Recently, the European Union proposed a $315 billion REPowerEU effort to promote the transition from Russian fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, such as green hydrogen.
The Transatlantic Partnership propelled the Agreement
This project’s announcement exemplifies the strength of trans-Atlantic cooperation between a prominent international technology corporation and a forward-thinking European port operator. Plug is constructing a global end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem, focusing on hub locations with favorable economics and high consumer demand. Europe is central to Plug’s business strategy, as evidenced by recent investments such as the opening of a service and logistics center in Duisburg, Germany, the acquisition of the Netherlands-based Frames Group, and the opening of a hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicle assembly plant with Renault in Flins, France.
“Plug is already one of the largest investors in the European hydrogen economy, and one of the largest employers in Europe among the hydrogen pure players. Our investment in a green hydrogen production plant in the heart of Europe deepens our commitment to the European market,” added Marsh. “Europe is determined to shift from foreign sources of fossil fuel energy to local sources of green energy, and we are helping to deliver on their vision.”
