Shell to build largest hydrogen plant in Europe to power refinery of Netherlands

Shell plans to build a significant hydrogen plant in the Netherlands, Europe’s largest, generating 60000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen daily.

According to oil and gas giant Shell, the 200-megawatt electrolyzer will be located in the Port of Rotterdam, the largest seaport in Europe. The electrolyzer would use renewable power from a 759 MW project, the Hollandse Kust (Noord) offshore wind farm, set to be operational in 2023. Shell is a part-owner of the wind farm. Using a new hydrogen pipeline called HyTransPorT, the hydrogen generated by the plant will be funneled to the Chemicals Park Rotterdam and Shell Energy.

Hydrogen has various applications and can be deployed in a vast range of industries. A method of generating hydrogen is using electrolysis, electric current splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. If the electricity utilized in this procedure comes from a renewable source, it’s called green or renewable hydrogen. Thus Shell is creating green hydrogen.

Ironically, Shell, a major oil and gas producer, says it aims to “become a net-zero emissions energy business” by 2050. Evidently, Shell’s want for a renewable hydrogen plant represents the latest attempt of many multinational firms to lay down a marker in this sector.