Europe´s largest green hydrogen project to be built in Netherlands

A consortium of Dutch companies Gasunie, Groningen Seaports and Shell Netherlands is planning to develop the NortH2 project in the North Sea: the production of green hydrogen using electricity generated by an offshore mega wind farm of 3 to 4 GW in 2030, which will be implemented given to the objectives of the Climate Agreement.

The consortium is aiming to expand the capacity up to around 10 GW in 2040. The project proposal provides for a large electrolyzer in Eemshaven, where wind energy will be converted into green hydrogen. The consortium is also considering the possibility of placing electrolyzers at sea. Green hydrogen production is expected to be around 800,000 tons per year in 2040, which saves about 7 megatons of CO2 per year. NortH2 has the support of the province of Groningen and is looking for partners to expand the consortium and realize this project.

Green hydrogen, made from renewable sources such as wind and solar energy, is central to the Dutch Climate Agreement and the European 'Green Deal'. At present, hydrogen is already being used in large quantities in the industry but is mainly produced from natural gas. Replacing with green hydrogen makes a serious contribution to making the industry more sustainable.

With this project, Gasunie's natural gas infrastructure, which is currently mainly used for natural gas and green gas, is also used for the storage and transport of hydrogen.

The start of the project is expected this year with the launch of a feasibility study. If the outcome is successful, the consortium expects to produce the first hydrogen around 2027. This depends, among other things, on permits from governments, the designation of places for new wind farms in the North Sea, the available locations of the hydrogen plant(s) and the investment decisions of the parties involved. The realization therefore also depends on the contributions of various industrial and energy partners. NortH2's partners expect that the initial project phases may need European and national grants that are available for making energy more sustainable.