Following the announcement by the European Commission that Uniper's H2Maasvlakte project has been selected as an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI), Uniper this week took another important step towards the realization of their 100 MW electrolyzer project for green hydrogen at the Maasvlakte power plant site in the Port of Rotterdam.
Today at the World Hydrogen Congress, Uniper and Technip Energies signed the agreement that awards the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study contract to the international engineering and technology firm, starting immediately in October 2022. A milestone that brings Uniper`s flagship hydrogen project in the Netherlands one important step closer to realization.
H2Maasvlakte aims to gradually scaleup to a total electrolysis capacity of 500 MW for green hydrogen by 2030. The first 100 MW is scheduled to be commissioned in 2025.
Uniper's flagship H2Maasvlakte project will make a very important contribution to the Dutch government's goal of building 500 MW of electrolyzer capacity for green hydrogen by 2025 and achieving 3-4 GW by 2030.
Recently, under the IPCEI program, the European Commission nominated the Uniper H2Maasvlakte project for the "IPCEI Hy2Use" hydrogen value chain. As part of this process, the H2Maasvlakte project received a wide range of Letters of Support, Letters of Intent and concluded Memorandum of Understandings from multiple parties ranging from renewable energy producers bidding for Hollandse Kust VI and VII (West), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for electrolyzers and green hydrogen off-takers within industrial processes. This high level of support shows the significant interest this project has gained across the full value chain locally, nationally and internationally.
As part of the FEED scope of work, a multidisciplinary team from Technip Energies will deliver the full FEED package, including a design for a large-scale water electrolysis system, the balance of plant as well as site integration.
Axel Wietfeld, CEO Uniper Hydrogen said: "We are very proud to make this important step and progress to FEED on one of our flagship hydrogen projects in the Netherlands. The location of the project at our Maasvlakte site in the port of Rotterdam will play a key role producing hydrogen for industry using the synergies provided by Uniper’s current operations, while also enabling system integration for connecting renewable power at what will be a very busy location. We are very pleased to be working with Technip Energies, with whom we share the same values of being pioneers in enabling the energy transition with hydrogen.”
Laure Mandrou, SVP Carbon-free solutions of Technip Energies, commented: "We are glad to have been selected by Uniper to deliver this flagship green hydrogen project. Technip Energies is engaged in accelerating carbon-free hydrogen solutions deployment to decarbonise the industry. Through our shared ambition of pioneering the energy transition and providing sustainable energy, we are committed to support Uniper through the delivery of the FEED towards their final investment decision and the project execution”.
Silvio Erkens, Member of Parliament for the VVD: "The IPCEI is important to get national hydrogen production off the ground quickly. We can therefore be proud of all the initiators of these projects. With this, we are taking the next step to move to rapid implementation now".
Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam: “Uniper’s decision to start the FEED phase of its 100 MW electrolyzer is an important next step in making Rotterdam Europe’s Hydrogen Hub. It’s our ambition to make the port of Rotterdam an important location for green hydrogen production as well as a major import hub. Starting the FEED study shows Uniper’s determination to be part of this transition towards a sustainable industry.”
More about the H2Maasvlakte location:
H2Maasvlakte is part of the versatile and strategically located “Uniper Energy Hub Maasvlakte”. All the necessities for a successful energy transition comes together here - energy from offshore wind farms, a port suitable for the import of green fuels, and pivotal infrastructure such as the high-voltage grid and the future hydrogen pipeline. Uniper's Energy Hub plays an important role in the Netherlands.
Uniper Energy Hub Maasvlakte is one of the most suitable locations to realize a large-scale green H2 project because it offers several synergies, including:
- Existing infrastructure: grid connections, demineralised water, and a cooling water system from existing power plants;
- Large plot space to facilitate green hydrogen production up to GW scale
- Opportunities to recycle waste heat recovered from the electrolysis process;
- Offshore wind developments of 7.4GW arriving at the Maasvlakte site to create system integration opportunities;
- The site is surrounded by current and future hydrogen customers from the chemical, energy and petrochemical industry.
Green hydrogen can facilitate the energy transition for the petrochemical, mobility, power and heating industries.