VoltH2 is set to receive a substantial subsidy of 20 million euros from the Just Transition Fund. This financial support is earmarked for constructing two green hydrogen production factories in Zeeland, a move poised to transform the region’s energy landscape.
The funds will specifically aid in realizing the critical 150 KV connections required for VoltH2’s hydrogen facilities in Terneuzen and Vlissingen. These factories are projected to collectively produce around 2 kilotons of green hydrogen annually starting in 2026, marking a pivotal shift from traditional hydrogen production methods.
VoltH2’s calculations indicate this transition will significantly reduce approximately 17 kilotons of CO2 emissions. Looking ahead to a second phase, commencing in 2028, the company plans to scale up operations from 25 MW to an impressive 125 MW. This expansion anticipates an annual production of around 10 kilotons of green hydrogen, substantially reducing 85 kilotons of CO2 emissions.
The industrial landscape in Zeeland currently relies heavily on nearly 600 kilotons of hydrogen annually, predominantly sourced from natural gas, a practice VoltH2 aims to revolutionize through its green hydrogen initiatives.
One crucial prerequisite for green hydrogen production is a robust electricity connection with ample capacity. The Just Transition Fund steps in to provide crucial support for the establishment of two 150 kV connections to substations. The intricacies of this infrastructure development include overcoming challenges in Vlissingen, where costs escalate due to a lengthy route to the high-voltage station, necessitating drilling to navigate dikes, roads, railways, and various other cables and pipelines. In Terneuzen, the hydrogen factory’s location on one side of the Ghent-Terneuzen canal and the existing high-voltage station on the other introduce their own set of challenges.
The groundwork for this ambitious project is already in motion, with basic design elements and concept designs underway. The next crucial steps involve the procurement of necessary components. VoltH2 plans to commence work by the end of the current year, with a target completion date set for the end of 2025. The operationalized connections will be available in early 2026, serving both the hydrogen plants and potential third-party connections, marking a tangible step towards a sustainable and green energy future for Zeeland.
