Port of Rotterdam plans electrolyser on the Maasvlakte

The Port of Rotterdam has announced that Zeevonk II will construct an electrolyser on the Maasvlakte for converting wind farm energy to green hydrogen.

In the construction of the second conversion park on the Maasvlakte, the Port of Rotterdam Authority reserved space for the tender winner. This plot offers room for an electrolyser of up to 1 gigawatt (GW).

Zeevonk II, a joint venture between Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) won the wind park IJmuiden Ver tender for plot Beta. The goal of the tender is to integrate generated energy into the energy system.

The project involves the realisation of a 2 GW offshore wind farm, a 50 megawatt peak (MWp) floating offshore solar farm and an electrolyser. The wind farm is expected to be commissioned in 2029.

The site that was reserved by the Port of Rotterdam Authority for the tender winner offers room for up to 1 GW of electrolysis and is adjacent to TenneT’s future Amaliahaven high-voltage substation (380 kilovolts (kV)). This is where the 2 GW direct current cable of the IJmuiden Ver wind farm for plot Beta will arrive.

All green power that is converted directly into hydrogen will not end up in the electricity grid, as a result of which it will not be an additional burden on the grid. In addition, the hydrogen line that is currently being constructed runs alongside the site.

As a result, the hydrogen that will be generated can be transported to the client in an efficient manner, reported the port. Moreover, the location is very close to the Evides water main.

Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: “It is the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s ambition to bring the electrolysis in the port up to a capacity of 2 to 2.5 GW by 2030.

“This new development brings us closer to our goal. The Maasvlakte area offers both plenty of space and the required infrastructure, such as the direct connection to the hydrogen network that is currently under construction.

“It confirms yet again that Rotterdam’s hydrogen economy is already underway.”

Last month, the Port of Rotterdam announced that major shipping lines in Rotterdam will connect all their customers with container cargo from North America to the Secure Chain.

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