A 11 ha plot on the Maasvlakte is being developed by the Port of Rotterdam Authority so that a massive green hydrogen plant can be built there. The IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm tender that will take place later this year is the cause.
The Minister for Climate and Energy is urging businesses to wisely incorporate much of the wind energy into the energy grid in plot Beta. Direct production of hydrogen along the shore makes sense since it reduces the load on the high-voltage network. About 2028, the wind farm and hydrogen factory should be completed.
A total of about 1.35 GW (1.350 MW) of electrolysis capacity will be realised by many enterprises in Rotterdam. By 2030, the Port Authority hopes to produce 2 to 2.5 GW of electrolysis. With this breakthrough, it will be possible to achieve that. By 2030, the national government wants to have 4 GW installed nationally.
Wind farms
In the upcoming years, the North Sea will see an increase in the construction of wind farms. Green hydrogen will be created using some of the electricity they produce, as electrolysis allows water (H20) to be split into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O). This environmentally friendly hydrogen can replace natural gas. As no new high-voltage lines need to be installed on land, producing hydrogen right on the coast is enticing. Producing in the sector, where the majority of the consumers are, is also appealing.
The IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone Beta draught ministerial regulations were released by the Ministry for Climate and Energy in late March. It is anticipated to be completed in 2028 and will have a 2 GW capacity. In the second half of 2023, the official tendering procedure will begin. Several parties have already expressed interest. The party who wins this competition and want to create green hydrogen on a large scale in Rotterdam would have exclusive access to 11 hectares on the Maasvlakte, according to the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
Connecting hydrogen to heat
This location is next to Tennet’s Amaliahaven (380 kV) high-voltage substation and has room for up to 1 GW of electrolysis. The 2 GW DC cable from the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone Beta is headed here. The energy grid is not used at all when green electricity is transformed directly into hydrogen, reducing grid load. The brand-new hydrogen pipeline will also soon pass by the location. So, the hydrogen created here may be delivered to clients in an effective manner. Moreover, the location is near the Evides water pipeline. The Port Authority is also looking at the idea of tying the Maasvlakte hydrogen plants into local heat networks. They will soon be able to use this to heat their homes, greenhouses, and workplaces with “green” heat. This area is extremely well-positioned for the production of green hydrogen due to all of these features.
Wind tenders
Throughout various wind farm tendering processes, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZK) promotes various facets. The focus is on natural development in connection with the wind farms at IJmuiden Ver Zone Alpha, which is located in Borsele, and on so-called system integration at Zone Beta. This entails evaluating a plan’s compatibility with the entire Dutch energy system. So, it makes sense to create green hydrogen using green electricity.
The property is currently classified for container storage, thus the Port Authority is engaging with the town and DCMR about changing the zoning plan to designate the area for hydrogen generation.
