TotalEnergies has entered into agreements with Air Liquide to develop two green hydrogen projects in the Netherlands, marking a significant step in decarbonizing its operations in Europe.
Under the terms of the deals, the two companies aim to produce 45,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, powered primarily by renewable energy from the OranjeWind offshore wind farm, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and RWE.
These projects will reduce CO2 emissions from TotalEnergies' refineries in Belgium and the Netherlands by up to 450,000 tons per year, contributing to the European Union's renewable energy and emissions reduction goals, particularly in the transport sector.
One of the key components of the agreement involves the creation of a joint venture, with both TotalEnergies and Air Liquide each holding a 50% stake, to construct and operate a 250 MW electrolyser at the Zeeland refinery. This project will generate up to 30,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, most of which will be supplied to Zeeland's platform.
The electrolyser is set to be operational by 2029 and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions at the site by up to 300,000 tons annually. The overall investment in this project is around €600 million, with both companies applying for funding under European and national subsidy programs.
In addition to the Zeeland project, TotalEnergies has signed a tolling agreement with Air Liquide for a 130 MW portion of Air Liquide's 200 MW ELYgator electrolyser project in Maasvlakte, also in the Netherlands. This collaboration will produce 15,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, which will be supplied to TotalEnergies' Antwerp platform. The project is anticipated to be operational by the end of 2027 and will cut CO2 emissions at the Antwerp site by up to 150,000 tons a year.
Vincent Stoquart, President of Refining and Chemicals at TotalEnergies, commented on the significance of these agreements, stating: “Following the first partnership agreement with Air Liquide to supply the Normandy refinery with green hydrogen, and the agreements to supply the Grandpuits and La Mède biorefineries with renewable hydrogen, the partnership with Air Liquide takes on a new dimension and marks a new step in TotalEnergies' ambition to decarbonise the hydrogen consumed by its refineries in Europe by 2030.”
Stoquart added, “By supplying these two electrolysers with renewable electricity from our offshore wind project in the Netherlands, TotalEnergies is leveraging its positioning as an integrated electricity company.”
Emilie Mouren-Renouard, an executive committee member at Air Liquide in charge of European operations, expressed the company's commitment to the transition, saying, “We are proud to lead the way on European renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production, and to accompany TotalEnergies in their journey to decarbonising their industrial assets.”
Both companies' initiatives align with broader European goals to reduce industrial emissions and increase the use of renewable hydrogen in key sectors, including transportation.
