VoltH2 is building a green hydrogen plant in North Sea Port in Vlissingen. The plant will be equipped with storage, refuelling and distribution facilities.
Dutch VoltH2 focuses on the development of infrastructure projects around green hydrogen in north-west Europe. In doing so, the company develops sites that support the vertical integration of green hydrogen production, storage and distribution. The project in Vlissingen is VoltH2's first project.
Expandable up to 100MW
Using a 25MW electrolysis unit, VoltH2 plans to produce up to 3.6 million kg of green hydrogen annually at the plant. The plant can be expanded to a capacity of 100MW, enabling a potential production of 14.4 million kg of green hydrogen per year. On its website, VoltH2 writes that the site is "large enough for future expansion from an initial 10-25MW plant to hundreds of MWs".
The Dutch company is investing EUR 35 million in the plant in the first phase of construction. In the following years, the investment rises to more than €100 million.
Wind energy storage
The plant will feature integrated hydrogen storage. Among other things, this storage can be used for energy storage at times when wind farms produce more energy than demand requires. Hydrogen can be produced from this excess energy, which can be stored. This hydrogen can then be used to supply additional energy to the power grid at times when demand exceeds production.
A hydrogen filling station for trucks, buses and ships, among others, will also be built at the plant in the future. In addition, VoltH2 plans to supply and distribute hydrogen via road, rail and waterways to filling stations in the wider area and to the gas network.
North Sea Port
As an advantage of Nord Sea Port, VoltH2 cites the distance of less than 3,000 metres to Tennet's high-voltage network. The sea cables from the Orsted wind farm are also connected to the 380KV network here. In addition, the plant is 500 metres away from the
In addition, the plant will be built next to the existing Sloe gas plant and in the immediate vicinity of industrial companies that are expected to use green hydrogen in the future. These parties can mix the green hydrogen with natural gas or switch completely to green hydrogen in the future.
Energy transition
"The idea of using available commercial green hydrogen is one of the keys in the global energy transition to reduce the use of fossil fuels and is now fast becoming an economic reality. The COVID-19 crisis brings the focus to a carbon-free economy as we see how quickly nature responds positively to the slowdown in economic activity," Jurres said.
Daan Schalck, CEO North Sea Port: "This investment by VoltH2 in a green hydrogen plant is in line with the energy transition that North Sea Port is working on with a lot of partners. It also allows the port to further develop as an Energy Port. The plant also allows North Sea Port to further develop as a multimodal port by transporting hydrogen by road, rail and water."
Talks with potential customers
"VoltH2 already has discussions with parties on the supply of green electricity to the site, including long-term off-take contracts. Other potential partners providing green hydrogen for their future needs are always welcome," Jurres said.
"By signing this agreement with North Sea Port for our first site in Vlissingen, we are giving the starting shot for the expansion of VoltH2," says André Jurres, founder and Managing Director of the company. "We thank North Sea Port for its cooperation and support in this preparatory phase so that we can take this first step in the development of a green hydrogen hub in Vlissingen."
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
