On the premises of the existing gas fired power plant Eemscentrale (Eems) in the Eemshaven area (Northern Netherlands), ENGIE aims to build a 100 MW electrical capacity water electrolysis hydrogen plant (first phase) and with a total capacity of 1.85 GW in the 2030s. This project is known as "HyNetherlands". This IPCEI project is the first step towards this goal: a 100 MW electrical capacity water electrolysis hydrogen plant. The HyNetherlands project will serve as a model for the future redevelopment of fossil based generating sites and facilitate a full low-carbon hydrogen value chain. By addressing industrial markets and the mobility sector through an open transport hydrogen network and storage salt cavern infrastructure, the project aims to capture the economies of scale that will advance the cost effectiveness of renewable hydrogen as a highly effective, versatile and practical climate solution. This will open the door to exploring other markets, including heavy transport where ENGIE has ongoing projects. The hydrogen plant is to be built via a so-called "brownfield" approach.
With the signing of the Paris Agreement, it was agreed to combat the impact of climate change and limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and aim for below 1.5 degrees Celsius. On EU level, it was also agreed to reach CO2 neutrality in 2050 and – given the EU offshore renewable energy strategy – to reach the target of 300GW offshore wind in 2050. On a national level, in the Dutch Climate agreement, the target of 11.5GW offshore wind was set. With regard to green hydrogen, the ambition set is to achieve 500MW of electrolysis capacity in 2025 and 3 to 4GW in 2030. To achieve these (inter)national targets, a rapid and radical change of the energy system is needed. Sector coupling/system integration will play an important role in that process and so will electrolysis. Converting renewable electricity into hydrogen will not only prevent congestion and grid reinforcements, but also help to decarbonize (hard to abate) certain sectors (such as industry and the transport sector).
This IPCEI project is the first step towards this goal: a 100 MW electrical capacity water electrolysis hydrogen plant. The HyNetherlands project will serve as a model for the future redevelopment of fossil based generating sites and facilitate a full low-carbon hydrogen value chain.