Port of Rotterdam prepares for 1GW hydrogen development

The Port of Rotterdam Authority is developing an 11ha site on the Maasvlakte suitable for the construction of a 1GW green hydrogen plant.

The plant, which will be ready in 2028, will use wind from the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm to produce hydrogen on the coast.

In March, the Minister for Climate and Energy announced the draft regulations for IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone Beta, a project designed specifically to facilitate system integration. It will have a capacity of 2GW and the tender process will start in the second half of 2023.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority is reserving the 11 hectares on the Maasvlakte for the party that wins this tender and wants to produce green hydrogen on a large scale.

Port of Rotterdam chief executive Allard Castelein said: “The construction of a hydrogen plant with a capacity of 1GW is the next leap in scale in the production of green hydrogen.

“Several companies are now building, or have advanced plans to build, electrolysers with a capacity of 200 to 250MW at the Maasvlakte.

Enlit Europe Content Director Florence Coullet visits landmark windfarm on a lake

“These would currently be the largest in Europe, but we already want to accommodate the next generation of hydrogen plants. These are expected to be five times larger.”

The Dutch government is encouraging companies to integrate wind into the energy system without overloading the grid. The Port of Rotterdam suggests that the production of hydrogen directly on the coast is a logical solution, as it avoids additional load on the high-voltage network.

New hydrogen pipeline

This site, which offers space for up to 1GW of electrolysis, is strategically located for maximum efficiency. It will be next to where Tennet’s Amaliahaven (380 kV) high-voltage substation will be built.

The site is the destination of the 2GW DC cable from the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone Beta. Also, a new hydrogen pipeline will soon run past the site, allowing for hydrogen to easily be transported to customers.

How the Port of Rotterdam is enabling the energy transition with hydrogen

Finally, the Port Authority is exploring the possibility of connecting the Maasvlakte hydrogen plants to regional heat networks. This will eventually allow them to use ‘green’ heat to heat houses, greenhouses and offices.

The Port Authority is consulting with the municipality and DCMR on amending the zoning plan: the site is currently zoned for container storage.

In June 2022, Randolf Weterings, Senior Programme Manager of New Energy Systems at the Port of Rotterdam, explained in an Enlit on the Road interview the vision of the Port of Rotterdam for the energy transition and the role of hydrogen.